Correlation of natural tooth colour with aging in the Spanish population

Abstract

The strongest correlation was found between age and L*, then between age and h* (both inverse relationships) and then between age and a*, C* and b* (direct relationships). In addition, a similar degree of change in the colour coordinates L*, C* and h* (of 0.60 units/year on average) was observed for natural tooth colour. Knowledge of the chromatic range of natural teeth may help to choose colour for the replacement of missing elements.

Changes of tooth color in middle and old age: A longitudinal study over a decade

“…The change detected was comparable with the color difference between 2 hue groups in the 3D shade guide (VITA Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany) and, therefore, slightly lower (Δ h° 2–2.4 units) than the hue change estimated on the basis of a cross‐sectional study (0.6 units/year × 8 years = 4.8 units). In contrast with previous reports, changes of lightness and chroma seem to be age‐cohort‐specific. Especially, a linear decrease of lightness and a linear increase of chroma during aging may be qualified by the recent data .…”

“…This longitudinal approach partially confirms results from a previous cross‐sectional study. A change of hue ( h °) toward red/an increase of redness ( a *) found in previous study was confirmed longitudinally for both cohorts. The change detected was comparable with the color difference between 2 hue groups in the 3D shade guide (VITA Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany) and, therefore, slightly lower (Δ h° 2–2.4 units) than the hue change estimated on the basis of a cross‐sectional study (0.6 units/year × 8 years = 4.8 units).…”

“…It has also been reported that saturation increases as hue changes toward red. Mean values of both color changes were—again—0.6 units/year . To summarize, the available literature leads to the conclusion of direct (redness/yellowness/saturation) and indirect (lightness/hue) linear associations of tooth color with aging (range: 16–89 years) .…”

“…It has been reported that aging leads to a substantial decrease in the lightness of natural teeth and to an increase of yellowness; redness also increases, albeit less substantially . For both Δ L* and Δ b* , a change of approximately 0.6 units per year has been estimated (Δ a* : 0.3 units) . It has also been reported that saturation increases as hue changes toward red.…”

“…Survival of fixed dental prostheses is long‐term, exceeding 10 or more years . However, because, over this long period in clinical service of the dental prosthesis, the color of natural teeth changes substantially, a mismatch of color will develop …”