Prosthodontics & Occlusion · patient case question
Which error in shade taking would produce a crown that is too white?
Patient case: Shade selection for an anterior restoration
Patient: Adult requiring an anterior indirect restoration
Chief complaint: Concerned about the appearance of the definitive crown.
Background: No relevant medical history reported.
Current findings: Shade selection is being carried out against a prepared tooth, using a shade guide.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Taking the shade after the tooth had been isolated and dehydrated
- A. Taking the shade before preparation is correct practice, not an error.
- B. Neutral, daylight-corrected lighting is the recommended condition.
- C. CORRECT. Dehydration lightens the tooth, so the shade recorded is falsely light and the crown is fabricated too white. Once the natural tooth rehydrates and returns to its true darker shade, the mismatch becomes obvious.
- D. Eye level is the correct viewing position, using the most colour-sensitive part of the retina.
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