MANUAL METHOD FOR GINGIVAL SHADE SELECTION- A LITERATURE REVIEW

Objective- The purpose of the article is to present a narrative review of the literature related to the different shade guides available for dental practitioners.

Materials And Methods- A literature search was performed in the online databases – PubMed, Science Direct, Medline and Google Scholar with the following When fabricating a restoration, patient satisfaction with the shade match is essential. The patients level of satisfaction may not be the same as that of the dental practitioner. Esthetic expectations have dramatically increased in the last few years. Color and shade determination are generally considered difficult in dental practice. Most prostheses fail esthetically owing to improper shade selection. A good understanding of color shade guides is essential for precise shade matching, but the paucity of dental practitioners knowledge of color science because of the numerous available shade guides creates a challenge. This comprehensive review states information on shade selection, different shade guides, and shade matching devices commonly used in dental practice. Dental shade guides are a set of colour standards mimicking the colour of tissues, which dentists aim to restore – tooth structures, gingival tissues or facial structures in facial prosthodontics - skin, mucosa, eyes etc. They can be systematized based on the following principles – fabrication process, the material of manufacturing or restoration and according to the tissues, which are restored.

Conclusion: To provide an esthetic restoration to the patient, the dentist must have a full understanding of the science of color and color perception. Matching the correct shade satisfies both the dentist and patient and gives a pleasing appearance to the patient.