Journal of Dentistry
Volume 35, Issue 8 , Pages 690-694, August 2007

Measurement of opalescence of tooth enamel

  • Yong-Keun Lee

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: Department of Dental Biomaterials Science, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, 28 Yeongeon-dong, Jongro-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Tel.: +82 2 7408693; fax: +82 2 7408694.
    • ,
  • Bin Yu

Department of Dental Biomaterials Science and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Received 5 April 2007; received in revised form 23 May 2007; accepted 26 May 2007.

Abstract 

Objectives

Opalescent dental esthetic restoratives look natural and esthetic in any light, react to light in the same manner as the natural tooth and show improved masking effect. The objective of this study was to determine the opalescence of tooth enamel with reflection spectrophotometers.

Methods

Color of intact bovine and human enamel was measured in the reflectance and transmittance modes. Two kinds of spectrophotometers were used for bovine and one kind was used for human enamel. The opalescence parameter (OP) was calculated as the difference in yellow-blue color coordinate (CIE Δb*) and red-green color coordinate (CIE Δa*) between the reflected and transmitted colors.

Results

Mean OP value of bovine enamel was 10.6 (±1.4) to 19.0 (±2.1), and varied by the configuration of spectrophotometers. Mean OP value of human enamel was 22.9 (±1.9).

Conclusions

Opalescence varied by the configuration of measuring spectrophotometer and the species of enamel. These values could be used in the development of esthetic restorative materials.

Keywords: Opalescence, Enamel, Reflected color, Transmitted color

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PII: S0300-5712(07)00111-X

doi:10.1016/j.jdent.2007.05.010

Journal of Dentistry
Volume 35, Issue 8 , Pages 690-694, August 2007

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