In the past, dentists had to simply match patients’ teeth with a shade tab of the VITA guide and note down the number. Today, while still beneficial, this method is no longer sufficient for achieving a perfect color match. Due to the distinct characteristics of enamel and dentin, custom coloring likely involves a mix of multiple shades. Achieving the correct match requires more than just going through the shade chart and selecting one option.

Here are some tips to help your lab deliver better and faster results:

1. Take good pictures – using a DSLR or iPhone camera – with crisp and clear images.
2. Select more than one shade tab for a more accurate representative of the patient’s teeth.
3. Make sure that a stump shade is included if an all-ceramic tooth restoration is being recommended.
4. When a photograph is taken, make the tab identifier (D3, A2, C4, etc.) highly visible.
5. Keep both the shade tab and the teeth at the same angle to allow light to reflect on them in the same way.
6. Take pictures under different lights instead of just limiting it to the treatment room.