Shade Matching in Aesthetic Dentistry: An Overview

In the recent year, marked raised in patients aesthetic expectations has been noted and in replicating the appear- ance & optical properties of tooth structure requires careful selection of dental materials & control over the form, surface texture, translucency, and colour of the restoration. With the availability of ceramic materials, a minimally invasive restoration such as porcelain laminate veneers (PLVs) can be prepared with adequate strength and can successfully be cemented with resin cements. Resin ce- ments are generally used for the cementation of all--ceramic restorations. Since ceramic material and resin cements are produced by several manufacturers in varying shades, a marked effect is noticed on the final colour-match of the PLVs especially the high translucency ceramics. This paper discusses the various factors that finally modulate the colour-match of PLVs with adjacent natural teeth under individual clinical need.