TOOTH SHADE & ITS CORRELATION WITH SKIN COLOR – ITS PERCEPTION ON SMILE ATTRACTIVENESS

Abstract

Introduction: Shade selection is a crucial step in providing patients with a cosmetic restoration that blends in seamlessly with their dentition. Natural teeth are known to possess different shades. Many factors affect the color of natural teeth. One of the most critical variables and most often ignored is light. Another aspect that can affect the colors of natural teeth is the color imparted by different skin complexions. The objective of this study was to determine if skin tone and tooth color had the same inuence on smile attractiveness. Materials And Methods: A photograph of a woman's smile was digitally modied to obtain 16 images. Using the MAC color code as a reference, the skin tone was changed to four different tones (NW25: light, NC42:light medium, NW43:medium dark, NW50:dark), and the tooth shade was changed to four different tones (A1, A2, A3, A4) using the VITAPAN Classical shade guide. A total of 94 people completed a Google form questionnaire in which they scored each picture on the Visual Analog Scale for attractiveness. Results: Images NW25A1 and NW43A4 obtained the highest and lowest visual analog scale values, respectively. Conclusion: The overall results suggest that, regardless of the skin color, a lighter tooth shade has a major impact on smile attractiveness.