Abstract

A standardized system of color or shade selection and application is provided for crown and bridge prosthodontia, especially involving composite metal-ceramic crowns and bridges, using commercially available dental porcelains. A prosthodontic shade guide holds removable shade selectors to present separately distinct gingival and incisal shades of dental porcelain in accordance with their appearance on metal crowns and bridges. Each gingival shade selector comprises a thin opaque backing layer overlain by a thicker tapering body layer on a concave support, while each incisal shade selector comprises a thick tapering convex layer suitably supported. In the instance of a crown, the tooth is reduced dimensionally corresponding to the shade selector thicknesses (both gingival and incisal), and the crown is fabricated to a basic thickness to accommodate the respective layers. The crown is covered similarly to the shade selectors with such an opaque layer, then with such body layer, and finally such incisal layer is applied in desired depth to the incisal portion and is drawn down progressively thinner toward the gum line to duplicate the range of natural tooth color being matched.

Other References

• "Matching Tooth Shades in Porcelain", by E. Bruce Clark, Copyright 1933, Published by The Dentist Supply Co. of N.Y