Discuss the Munsell colour system and how it is related to dental technology.

Discuss the Munsell colour system and how it is related to dental technology.

1. The first step to achieving success in cosmetic dentistry is to correctly identify the tooth colour we need to imitate and material that most closely matches.

2. Munsell colour is a 3D model that is arranged into HUE (centre),VALUE (vertical), and CHROMA (horizontal).

   • HUE – type of colour.
   • VALUE – black to white, lightness of colour.
   • CHROMA – intensity of colour.

3. Colour perception and reproduction processes can be applied in dentistry, specifically to shade matching techniques. The important concept includes pigment colours and the dimensions of colour.

4. • Colour determination in dentistry can be divided into two categories: • Visual • Instrumental.

5. • The Munsell colour system is a popular system for visual determination of colour.

6. • Value (lightness) is determined first by the selection of a tab that most nearly corresponds with the lightness or darkness of the colour. Value ranges from white to black.

7. • Chroma is determined next with tabs that are close to the measured value but are of increasing saturation of colour. Chroma ranges from achromatic or grey to a highly saturated colour.

8. Hue is determined last by matching with colour tabs of the “value” and “chroma” already determined. Hue is measured on a scale from 2.5 to 10 in increments of 2.5 for each of the 10 colour families.

9. • Visual colour determination of a patient’s tooth is the most frequently applied method in clinical dentistry. However, visual determination of shade selection has been found to be unreliable and inconsistent.

10. • Colour saturation is important to match perfectly with the shade of the natural teeth.

11. • Opaque porcelain in crowns increase the VALUE

12. • Enamel thickness reduces the VALUE

13. • Brilliance can make a tooth look artificial.