The Perfect Smile: Using Spectrophotometry and Color Measurement to Evaluate Cosmetic Dental Products

The surge in cosmetic dentistry relies on spectrophotometry to develop more advanced products. Image Source: Flickr user get directly down

Cosmetic dentistry and cosmetic dental procedures have exploded in popularity over the past decade as people increasingly seek to perfect their smiles. As more advanced products to enhance the appearance of teeth enter the marketplace, spectral analysis is playing a vital role in evaluating the effectiveness of cosmetic dental products and develop best practices. While spectrophotometric technology has long played a part in therapeutic dentistry, its advanced color measurement capabilities have now become more important than ever in helping consumers achieve the aesthetic result they are looking for, both at home and during trips to the dental office.

Precise color monitoring allows for accurate assessment of whitening product effectiveness. Image Source: Flickr user Mauren Veras

Tooth Whitening

Tooth whitening is the most requested cosmetic dental procedure in the United States, with dentists seeing a 300% increase in whitening procedures since 1996. Whitening procedures can take place in the dental office, at home using dentist-provided materials such as custom-made trays and bleaching gel, or using over the counter products like whitening strips available at the local drug store. All of these products must find an ideal balance between tolerability and effectiveness to allow consumers to experience aesthetic improvements with minimal irritation.

Measuring Product Effectiveness with Spectrophotometry

In order to develop the most effective whitening products, researchers employ careful color monitoring techniques to gain accurate data regarding color change capabilities and discover how a product should be used for the best results. Precise color measurement allows consumers to have a realistic understanding of the results they can expect from a particular product and make purchasing decisions that give them what they are looking for.

Many clinical studies use dental shade guides to determine color change, but as a 2011 study on Nite White 10% bleaching gel points out, this is “not very reliable and highly subjective. Variables such as observer’s experience, eye fatigue, ambient light conditions and the background against which a tooth is compared may lead to inconsistencies.” Teeth also present particular challenges for color evaluation due to their variable thickness and texture, and require specialized measurement tools to account for these factors. In order to produce precise, accurate results, industry best practices recommend the use of spectrophotometric assessment. Spherical spectrophotometric technology compensates for light distribution variation caused by texture and thickness to produce reliable readings of tooth color and allow for true measurement of whitening effects on enamel coloration. With the detailed information provided by spectral analysis, dental product manufacturers can modify their ingredients to create more effective formulations and meet the whitening needs of their customers.

Spectrophotometric technology is instrumental to developing the ideal veneers. Image Source: Flickr user Steve Alper

Measuring the Masking Ability of Veneers

When bleaching products are not enough to give customers the smiles they are looking for, veneers can be an attractive alternative to disguise discolored teeth. However, aesthetic consistency can be challenging, as veneers must be thick enough to conceal discoloration of the natural tooth. In order to investigate how to best achieve an aesthetically pleasing result, researchers employ spectrophotometers to measure the masking capabilities of various types of veneers and determine which products are best suited for patients based on the appearance of their natural teeth. For example, a study published in the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry examining bi-laminate versus tri-laminate all-ceramic veneers found that tri-laminate veneers offered superior masking abilities for natural teeth with darker colors. As the demand for dental veneers rises, spectral analysis will continue to play a critical role in the evaluation of new materials and the development of more advanced products.

HunterLab Ingenuity

HunterLab offers the most sophisticated range of spectrophotometric instruments on the market. Our flexible, versatile products can be customized to meet the needs of researchers, product manufacturers, and dentists to ensure accurate color measurement, from product conception to production to final use. Contact us today to learn more about our product range and how we can help you reach the next level of color precision.