Fifty Shades of Gray: Matching Single Centrals

Not the book – and hopefully not that single central you are trying to match. However, we do occasionally have to shade a single central with a myriad of intrinsic color that we often can't find tabs to match.

That problem aside, when photographing for shading what is the best approach for your technician in terms of background color... black or gray?

I was taught that when shading for color, use a gray background; when shading for incisal edge translucency use a black background. I only used both when the single central wasn't a straight up shade tab match. And I am not skilled in changing exposure settings – I just want to pick up my camera, focus and shoot.

I recently decided to go to the experts and find out what is the right answer when matching single centrals.

And guess what? It depends on who you talk to.

I work with The Winter Lab and posed the question to their master ceramists.

I asked Tak, the porcelain department manager, what he thinks and he said that he always prefers a gray background because he can identify the colors better.

I asked Hiro and another master technician; they both said that they prefer a black background because they can focus better on the color.

So where does that leave us? Find out what your ceramist prefers on your basic cases and on the challenging ones… a photo of the single central with both black and gray.

One final note…I fabricate disposable backgrounds using construction paper. I find that at times with the black manufactured ones that come with your camera purchase, are too wide to place in the anterior arch space and you end up having to shoot the picture at an odd angle. I like the paper ones because I can gently place a fold into it and place it just where I want it. We cut it to a smaller shape/version of the manufactured ones.

Single central restorations are one of our greatest challenges, but with the photos your technician prefers, you might often attain your esthetic goals on the first try.

Mary Anne Salcetti, DDS, Spear Visiting Faculty and Contributing Author. [www.maryannesalcettidds.com]


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