Biomaterial Database

Shades of a color. Illusion or reality? 2001

S M Mayekar

Indian Academy of Aesthetic and Cosmetic Dentistry, Mumbai, India. sandesh@bom2.vsnl.net.in

Attaining the highest clinical level in esthetic and cosmetic dentistry necessitates the development of artistic skills; of balancing illusion with reality. The shade of a tooth is a combination of color and light and varies in different light conditions. Understanding the differences in color shades is the basis to creating illusions. Understanding light and color, and the reality of illusions, allows the clinician to design and sculpt a smile, to modify a flawed display artistically so that patients may perceive it as natural and more attractive, and to design laminates and veneers, class III, class IV, and cervical cavities.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008027	Light	That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the visible, ultraviolet, and infrared range.	Light, Visible,Photoradiation,Radiation, Visible,Visible Radiation,Photoradiations,Radiations, Visible,Visible Light,Visible Radiations
D009903	Optical Illusions	An illusion of vision usually affecting spatial relations.	Illusion, Optical,Illusions, Optical,Optical Illusion
D003116	Color	The visually perceived property of objects created by absorption or reflection of specific wavelengths of light.	Colors
D003737	Dental Cavity Preparation	An operation in which carious material is removed from teeth and biomechanically correct forms are established in the teeth to receive and retain restorations. A constant requirement is provision for prevention of failure of the restoration through recurrence of decay or inadequate resistance to applied stresses. (Boucher's Clinical Dental Terminology, 4th ed, p239-40)	Cavity Preparation, Dental,Cavity Preparations, Dental,Dental Cavity Preparations,Preparation, Dental Cavity,Preparations, Dental Cavity
D003764	Dental Materials	Materials used in the production of dental bases, restorations, impressions, prostheses, etc.	Dental Material,Material, Dental,Materials, Dental
D003793	Dental Restoration, Permanent	A restoration designed to remain in service for not less than 20 to 30 years, usually made of gold casting, cohesive gold, or amalgam. (Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992)	Dental Fillings, Permanent,Dental Filling, Permanent,Dental Permanent Filling,Dental Permanent Fillings,Dental Restorations, Permanent,Filling, Dental Permanent,Filling, Permanent Dental,Fillings, Dental Permanent,Fillings, Permanent Dental,Permanent Dental Filling,Permanent Dental Fillings,Permanent Dental Restoration,Permanent Dental Restorations,Permanent Filling, Dental,Permanent Fillings, Dental,Restoration, Permanent Dental,Restorations, Permanent Dental
D003801	Dental Veneers	The use of a layer of tooth-colored material, usually porcelain or acrylic resin, applied to the surface of natural teeth, crowns, or pontics by fusion, cementation, or mechanical retention.	Dental Laminates,Dental Laminate,Dental Veneer,Laminate, Dental,Laminates, Dental,Veneer, Dental,Veneers, Dental
D004955	Esthetics, Dental	Skills, techniques, standards, and principles used to improve the art and symmetry of the teeth and face to improve the appearance as well as the function of the teeth, mouth, and face. (From Boucher's Clinical Dental Terminology, 4th ed, p108)	Cosmetic Dentistry,Aesthetics, Dental,Dental Esthetic,Dental Esthetics,Esthetic, Dental,Cosmetic Dentistries,Dentistries, Cosmetic,Dentistry, Cosmetic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012904	Smiling	A facial expression which may denote feelings of pleasure, affection, amusement, etc.	Smilings