Study of natural teeth color according to toothguide 3d master through cluster analysis

How natural teeth color are grouped with Toothguide 3D Master according to color coordinates, L*, C*, and h* is reported. Tooth color was measured through the Easyshade Compact (Vita-Zahnfabrik) spectrophotometer using a sample of 1361 subjects aged between 16 and 89 years. The color of the middle third of the maxillary central incisor was registered according to the Toothguide 3D Master nomenclature and the coordinates L*, C*, and h*. Cluster analysis and the SPAD 5.5 statistical package were applied for data processing. Of the 1361 participants, only 545 (40%) had a match among the 26 physical shade tabs of the Toothguide 3D Master. Statistical analysis revealed the existence of four cluster groups: Cluster 1 comprised shade tabs 1M1–2L1.5–2M1; cluster 2 comprised 1M2–2L2.5–2M2–2M3–2R2.5–3M2–3L2.5; cluster 3 comprised 2R1.5–3L1.5–3M1–3R1.5–4L1.5–4M1; and cluster 4 comprised 3M3–3R2.5–4M2–4L2.5–4R1.5–4R2.5–4M3–5M1–5M2–5M3. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.0.1) were also found, both in the color dimension, and among the four cluster groups revealed. Taking into account the limitations of this study, the natural teeth color can be grouped into four clusters by following coordinates L*, C*, and h,* resulting from the compact spectrophotometer Vita Easyshade. Natural teeth color are not distributed homogeneously with Toothguide 3D Master according to color coordinates. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 41, 101–107, 2016