Custom Shade Matching: Techniques for Achieving Natural-Looking Restorations

Getting a restoration to blend with the natural teeth of a person can be like an artistic endeavour. Making it blend easily is easier said than done. With the advancement of technology and changes in the dental care industry, both treatment procedures and patient expectations have significantly changed.



Patients now expect more than just functionality when it comes to restorations. They also want flawless and natural-looking results. This is where dental practices and dentists rely on custom shade matching. A reputable dental laboratory in Surrey can help dental clinics deliver exceptional dental restoration outcomes to patients with advanced custom shade matching.

Let us take a look at how custom shade matching can transform dental restorations from noticeable to nearly invisible.

The Science Behind Natural Tooth Shades
Natural teeth shades vary in ways that go way beyond just the “white” or “off-white.” There are a variety of factors that play a key role. These are:

Translucency
Value (lightness)
Hue (colour)
Chroma (intensity)
Light behaves differently across the surface and layers of a tooth. The enamel reflects it one way, while the dentin underneath it diffuses it another way. Not just that, even lighting conditions and surrounding teeth can also change the way a shade appears. This is why accurate matching involves more than just a glance. It requires knowledge, skill, and precision.

Techniques for Accurate Custom Shade Matching
Most shade matching processes begin with a visual shade guide under natural daylight. It is also a fact that visual judgement alone can often fall short, especially in complex cases. Dental laboratories now use digital shade-matching devices and spectrophotometers. These tools scan the tooth surface and break down the colour into measurable values. They can reduce human error and offer exceptional consistency across various cases.

Photography also helps in shade matching. High-quality images under controlled lighting, especially with shade tabs placed next to the tooth, help create clear references. When shared with the dental laboratory, these photographs support more precise results.

In some cases, the patient may also visit the dental laboratory directly. Face-to-face shade matching ensures that even difficult single-tooth restorations can match perfectly.

The Role of Communication Between Clinic and Lab
Great results rely on clear communication between the dentist and the technician. A dental laboratory can only deliver excellent work when it receives complete and accurate details. Dentists must share information like the stump shade, lighting conditions, preparation type, and all other nuances in the patient’s natural dentition. Shade tabs used during consultation should align with the lab’s system to avoid any mismatch.

Natural-looking restorations don’t happen by chance. They result from close collaboration, technical expertise, and an eye for subtle detail. A trusted dental laboratory in Surrey brings all these elements together to support dental professionals.

If you’re looking to partner with a dental laboratory that prioritises precision and aesthetics, speak to our team at B&C Ceramics LTD today.