Let’s face it. Shading is a subjective process. Explaining translucencies and colors to another individual is difficult, even with tools and shade guides.
While a shade tab helps us to approximate the hue, chroma and value, it does not tell us about other subtle differences. To get better results, a photograph can make all the difference. Pictures allow the dental technician to see the shading and unique characteristics of the tooth, as well as features of the adjacent dentition.
The best pictures are taken with a high-end DSLR camera with a ring flash. But the reality is not everyone has that kind of equipment. We often receive images snapped with nothing more than an iPhone. Regardless of your camera equipment, you can make sure you’re capturing the best possible image with these simple tips:
Just send a hard copy of your photo with your case or transmit one electronically, either via email or attached to your MyDDS Lab online prescription form.
Read more about shade matching and how you can ensure patient satisfaction, download our white paper, “Shade Matching in Restorative Dentistry.”