Color comparison between non-vital and vital teeth.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to define a color space of non-vital teeth and to compare it with the color space of matched vital teeth, recorded in the same patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a group of 218 patients, with the age range from 17 to 70, the middle third of the buccal surface of 359 devitalized teeth was measured using a clinical spectrophotometer (Vita Easyshade Advance). Lightness (L), chromatic parameters (a, b), chroma (C), hue angle (h) and the closest Vita shade in Classical and 3D Master codifications were recorded. For each patient, the same data were recorded in a vital reference tooth. The measurements were performed by the same operator with the same spectrophotometer, using a standardized protocol for color evaluation.

RESULTS

The color coordinates of non-vital teeth varied as follows: lightness L: 52.83-92.93, C: 8.23-58.90, h: 51.20-101.53, a: -2.53-24.80, b: 8.10-53.43. For the reference vital teeth, the ranges of color parameters were: L: 60.90-97.16, C: 8.43-39.23, h: 75.30-101.13, a: -2.36-9.60, b: 8.36-39.23. The color differences between vital and non-vital teeth depended on tooth group, but not on patient age.

CONCLUSION

Non-vital teeth had a wider color space than vital ones. Non-vital teeth were darker (decreased lightness), more saturated (increased chroma), and with an increased range of the hue interval. An increased tendency towards positive values on the a and b axes suggested redder and yellower non-vital teeth compared to vital ones.