Abstract:

With the advancements in dental medicine and the improvement in the quality of life of patients, a significant shift towards aesthetic restorations, such as veneers and full-ceramic crowns and bridges can be observed. Evaluation of the impact of saliva on the color determination of the natural teeth is important to the success of the prosthetic treatment.
Aim. The aim of the current study is to determine whether the presence of saliva on the surface of the maxillary central incisor influences color determination using the VITA Easyshade V and SpectroShade Micro devices.
Materials and methods. The study involved 30 volunteers aged between 20 and 35 years. Measurements were conducted on the maxillary central incisors under two conditions — dry and moist environments. Moisture was simulated by evenly coating the tooth surface with saliva. Measurements followed the CIE Lab* system, analyzing the parameters L* (lightness), a* (red-green spectrum), and b* (yellow-blue spectrum).
Results. The results demonstrated that the presence of moisture significantly reduced L* values, leading to a noticeable darkening of the teeth. The a* and b* parameters exhibited minor yet statistically significant deviations, shifting toward warmer tones. Differences between the two devices were minimal, indicating their comparable sensitivity to moisture.
Conclusion. This study highlights the importance of drying the tooth surface before measurement to ensure greater accuracy. In cases where measurements are conducted in moist environments, adopting a standardized protocol for saliva distribution is recommended. Adhering to these methods is expected to reduce measurement errors and improve the reliability of color determination in clinical practice.

Keywords: spectrophotometry, color, Easyshade V, SpectroShade