Determination the Tooth Shade of Patients Attending out Patient Clinic in Faculty of Dentistry University of Science and Technology (Sudan

Abstract

Introduction: There is limited information about the most dominant tooth colour shade in Sudanese population. The relation between skin tone, age, gender as criteria aiding in selection artificial teeth for completely edentulous Sudanese patients need to be addressed. Aims: This study aimed to identify the tooth colour shade in a sample of Sudanese population and it’s relation to age, gender and skin tones. Material & method: The study comprised 222 individuals in 4 groups; 15‐24 yrs,25‐34yrs,35‐44yrs and 45 yrs and above. One investigator, calibrated for examining tooth shade, performed all examinations. A Vita 3D master shade guide was used to examine either the maxillary right or left central incisor. A tooth had to be sound for inclusion in the study. Skin tone was divided into three categories (dark, medium and light) after performing a pilot study of 40 photographs and making tone pellet guide using PSPP12‐Corel software. Chi‐square test was used to analyze the data (P<0.05). Results: Most common tooth colour recorded in the study was 2M2 followed by 2M1, and 2M1.5. Statistically significant association was found between gender and tooth shade where men had darker teeth than female (P=0.03), and between tooth shade and age where older people had darker teeth (p=0.01). Darker skin tone individuals had teeth lighter in colour (p=0.04). Conclusion: This study concluded that lighter tooth shade was funded in younger age group and female individuals. In appropriate selection of artificial teeth for dark skin tone group it is more relevant to choose light tooth shade Value 1 and Value 2.