Tooth Color and Whitening - Digital Technologies

Objectives: To review the key concepts of color in the dental domain with specific reference to the use of digital technology to measure color and color appearance.

Materials and methods: The literature on color assessment in dentistry is considered and methods for assessing whiteness, yellowness and color appearance are collated and described.

Results and conclusion: A variety of methods for assessing color have been shown to exist and be viable including digital imaging. Equations to predict whiteness are identified; there is evidence that they are effective but further evaluation may be needed.