OBJECTIVE
Common methods for matching tooth shade can be classified into two categories: visual and instrumental measurements. This systematic review evaluated these two methods in terms of precision and accuracy using the agreement percentage rate.
METHOD AND MATERIALS
The following databases were searched for studies comparing different shade-matching methods: MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, and Google Scholar. Reference lists of relevant articles were also searched. Screening, data abstraction, and quality assessment were conducted independently and in duplicate.
RESULTS
Twenty-six studies were included. Seventeen studies provided data on the precision of the evaluated shade-matching methods, eight provided data on accuracy, and one provided data on both precision and accuracy.
CONCLUSION
Instrumental measurements using a spectrophotometer may provide the most precise and accurate shade-matching outcomes. However, the limitations of the available articles suggest that high-quality studies are still needed verify this claim.