Extended Shade Guides

The commonly used shade guides do not cover all the colors found in the natural dentition.⁴⁸ In such cases, specialized shade guides may be needed to provide additional information to the laboratory technician; The specialized shade guides may include dentin shade guides, bleach shade guides, or custom shade guides.⁴⁸

The dentin/stump guides are used for communicating the shade of the prepared tooth particularly when planning translucent all-ceramic/zirconia restorations (Fig. 30a). Bleach shade guides (Fig. 30b) typically incorporate shades that are lighter than the color of natural teeth. They are particularly helpful for shade determination of teeth that have undergone a bleaching procedure. A custom shade guide is used when it is impossible to match the color of the teeth to commercial shade guides.⁵⁸ A custom shade guide can be fabricated by using various combinations of composites/porcelain powders. However, the creation of custom shade guides is time-intensive and hence, not commonly practiced.⁵⁸

Fig. 30a Dentin shade guide used to record the stump shade

Fig. 30a Dentin shade guide used to record the stump shade

Fig. 30b - Vita Bleachguide 3D-Master

Fig. 30b - Vita Bleachguide 3D-Master

Image: https://www.vita-zahnfabrik.com/en/VITA-Bleachedguide-3D-MASTER-26260,27568.html