Tooth color is a major driver of facial esthetics. While permanent changes in tooth shade can be achieved by bleaching and restorations, there is a need for cosmetic products that can cause reversible color changes. This randomized controlled clinical study assessed the effectiveness and safety of a novel color-correcting product (Hismile™ V34 Color Corrector Serum™) versus a placebo (vehicle control lacking the color-change dyes). A single-center, randomized, controlled, examiner-blind, two-group, parallel design, single-use study design was followed. The test products were applied on a cotton bud for 30 s, and then, rinsed off. Tooth shade for maxillary central incisors was measured at baseline, immediately, and at 30 and 60 min, using the Vita Bleachedguide 3D-Master® Shade Guide and the EasyShade Advanced 4.0 spectrophotometer (for determining values of L*a*b*). The subjects (N = 60) had a baseline shade of 1M2 (rank 9) or darker. A single application of the test product resulted in an immediate and significant (p < 0.001) three shade improvement (26.2%) according to the shade guide, and the same significant benefits extended to 30 and 60 min. The placebo product did not alter tooth shade (p = 0.326). These changes were accompanied by significant improvements in the L value (whiteness) up to 30 min, and a reduction in b* (yellowness) for up to 60 min. Two-thirds of subjects using the test product stated in a survey that their teeth appeared both whiter and brighter. No safety issues arose from the use of the test product or vehicle control. These results indicate that using a color corrector can achieve worthwhile changes to tooth shade for up to 60 min.

UNASSIGNED: Our in vitro comparative study aimed to investigate the impact of thickness and tooth shade background on the translucency of highly translucent zirconia veneers.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 75 5Y-TZP zirconia veneers of shade A1 were fabricated with thicknesses of 0.50 mm (n = 25), 0.75 mm (n = 25), and 1.0 mm (n = 25). The translucencies were measured on composite resin teeth with shades A1, A2, A3, A3.5, and A4 using a digital color imaging spectrophotometer. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and post hoc Tukey\'s test (p < 0.05).
UNASSIGNED: The translucency values were optimal for the veneers placed over the substrate teeth with shades A1 and A2, regardless of the veneer thickness. Additionally, veneers with a thickness of 0.50 mm exhibited significantly higher translucency than those with thicknesses of 0.75 mm and 1.0 mm.
UNASSIGNED: Our study demonstrated that the translucency of the highly translucent zirconia veneers was influenced by both veneer thickness and tooth shade background. The optimal veneer thickness for achieving the highest translucency was 0.50 for the veneers with A1 and A2 shades placed over the substrate teeth.
UNASSIGNED: The optimal thickness for achieving the highest translucency of the highly translucent zirconia laminate veneers was 0.50 mm for the veneers with A1 and A2 shades placed over the substrate teeth. Clinicians and dental technicians could consider this when selecting materials for aesthetic restorations.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to observe the anatomical distribution of gingival melanin pigmentation and evaluate its intensity and extent in different age groups and in correlation with skin and tooth shades.
METHODS: The participants of this study were 391 patients attending the Dental University Hospital. The presence of gingival pigmentation was assessed using De Krom\'s Oral Pigmentation Chart and its intensity was assessed using the Dummett-Gupta Oral Pigmentation Index. Skin colour and tooth shade were measured using the Fitzpatrick scale and the VITA classical shade guide, respectively. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and Pearson\'s Χ2 test for the association between the study variables.
RESULTS: The prevalence of gingival pigmentation among the sample size was 74.4%, and pigmentations were present on both arches in 57.6% (n = 224) of the participants. The extent (category 1) was highest when pigmentation was evident in both arches, with category 4 being the least extent. Age and sex did not show a correlation with gingival pigmentation. Gingival pigmentation intensity was mild when pigments were present in one arch (p < 0.00), whereas it was heavy when both arches presented with gingival pigmentation. Medium brown colour and tooth shade A1 were the most common among participants with gingival pigmentation (p < 0.00). The association between gingival pigmentation intensity and extent in relation to skin colour was statistically significant (p < 0.00), as was tooth shade (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Gingival pigmentation is highly prevalent in the Saudi population, with different severity and extent levels. The effect of gingival pigmentation on smile and overall facial aesthetics should be considered when providing dental and cosmetic treatments.

BACKGROUND: Gingival shade matching, often overlooked, plays an integral role in designing prostheses for patients with high smile lines, gingival defects, and cases where the acrylic flange of removable dentures extends into the aesthetic zone. The purpose of this study was to find the most prevalent gingival shade in a sample of the South Indian population.
METHODS:  A total of 110 participants were included in the study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The standard daylight method of shade matching was used for this study. The participants were seated in a dental chair in the vertical position with their heads supported, their mouths open, and cheek retractors in place. The study area, gingiva, and vestibular region in relation to maxillary and mandibular right central incisors were dried with a three-way syringe, 15cm away, for 3 seconds before shade matching for 5 seconds at each reference point with an Ivoclar Vivadent IPS Dsign shade guide.
CONCLUSIONS: The most prevalent shade in the marginal and vestibular regions of the gingiva of the South Indian population was found to be GM2 shade, while the most prevalent shade of the attached gingiva was found to be G2 shade. A good percentage of the attached gingival shade was not matched with the tabs available in this shade guide.

The study aimed to analyze whether age determines the lightness and darkness of tooth shades. The demand for esthetics has soared to a next level progressively in many developing countries including India; the importance provided to match the tooth shade creates a great difference in the satisfactory outcome of the patient in the field of dentistry. Therefore, this particular study analyzed the differences in tooth shade values based on age factor among the Indian population. 238 individual\'s case sheets with the age between 18 and 65 years. 18-30 years of age were considered as group 1 (young adults), 31-45 years in group 2 (middle age), and above 45 years in group 3 (older age). The clinical intraoral pictures of the patients which were taken prior to the treatment were obtained and the shade of any one of the upper permanent central incisors was assessed using the Vitapan 3D-Master shade guide, especially the middle portion of the facial surface of the incisors. The collected data were imported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 17 (IBM Corporation). Chi-square test was used to assess the significance. From the data, 17.2% showed A1 shade, 35.2% A2 shade, 7.5% A3 shade, 5% A4 shade, 7.1% B1 shade, 15.9% B2 shade, 7.1% B3 shade, 3.3% B4 shade, and 1.1% C1 shade. The individuals under the category of above 45 years showed darker tooth shade compared to young adults and middle age population (Chi-square test, P < 0.001). Significant association was established with darker tooth shades by increasing age and vice versa. The older age population showed a higher correlation for dark shade between teeth. The aging process significantly affects the teeth color. Hence, as a dentist, it is important to know about the distribution of tooth shade and its association with age to get an outcome with adequate patient satisfaction.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of bleaching after combining ozone and 38% H2O2 in comparison to the sole use of 38% H2O2.
Consecutive 26 participants (13 males and 13 females) were recruited into this study. They were randomly allocated into 2 groups (n=13 for each group). In group 1 (test group); the participants\' upper anterior teeth were treated with 38% H2O2 for 20min then the teeth were exposed to ozone for 60s (healOzone(®) X4, KaVo Dental, Biberach, Germany). In group 2 (controls); the upper anterior teeth were treated with 20min of 38% H2O2 only. The shade of teeth was evaluated by recording the L* a* b* values and Vita Classic shades at study baseline and after bleaching in both groups. The statistically significant changes were set at P≤0.05.
Tooth sensitivity and teeth shades were comparable between groups at study baseline (p>0.05). Controls reported more tooth sensitivity following bleaching (p<0.001). Teeth achieved better Vita shades, higher L* values (lighter shades), and lower a* and b* values (lighter shades) after bleaching in both groups (P≤0.05). However, teeth bleached with H2O2 and ozone achieved better Vita shades, higher L* values and lower a* values (lighter shades) than those bleached with H2O2 alone (p<0.001). Changes in b* values were not significantly different between groups.
Bleaching with 38% H2O2 for 20min followed by 60s of ozone application would result in teeth with lighter shades than bleaching with 38% H2O2 alone.

The positive training effect achieved with the Toothguide Training Box (TTB) has been demonstrated in previous studies. The aim of this study was to investigate the training effect with the TTB at six and 12 months using standardized color tests. The study involved 101 dental students. The participants were divided into two study groups and one control group. Ten standard color samples were determined under uniform environmental conditions with VITA 3D-Master. The control group (N=30) took the color test after one week. Study group 1 (N=49) took the color test after six months and study group 2 (N=22) at 12 months for the first time by following the TTB curriculum. The control group achieved an average ΔEt1=0.85. In study group 1, the ΔEt2 was 2.29, and in study group 2, ΔEt3=2.25. The results after six and 12 months were highly significant compared to the control group (α=0.001). Dependence was determined only with regard to gender. In this study, the TTB quickly led to an improvement in tooth color differentiation among students. After six months, there was a decrease in the training effect. These results suggest that the TTB curriculum should be provided at the end of preclinical training.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of tooth bleaching using ozone after hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in comparison to the use of H2O2 alone.
METHODS: 70 extracted teeth were randomly distributed into two groups. Teeth surfaces in group 1 (n=35) were treated using 38% H2O2 and then were exposed to ozone for 60s and this ozonated peroxide mixture was left on the teeth for 20 min. Meanwhile, teeth in group 2 (n=35) were treated with H2O2 38% for 20 min. The L* a* b* and Vita Classic shade values of teeth were evaluated in both groups at base line, after application of H2O2 and ozone in group 1, and after application of H2O2 and then again after another application of ozone in group 2. The statistically significant changes were set at P ≤ 0.05.
RESULTS: Baseline L* a* b* and Vita shade values were comparable between groups (P>0.05). Teeth obtained lighter shades following bleaching with both H2O2 and ozone or with H2O2 alone (P ≤ 0.05). Further bleaching with ozone for teeth already bleached with H2O2 alone showed further improvement of the shades of teeth (P<0.001). Teeth treated with H2O2 and ozone had more shade improvements than those only treated with H2O2 (P<0.001). Also, L* values were increased while b* values were decreased (teeth obtained lighter shades) following bleaching in both groups (P ≤ 0.05). More changes were obtained when both ozone and H2O2 were used (P ≤ 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Bleaching with 38% H2O2 and ozone resulted in teeth with lighter shades than bleaching with 38% H2O2 alone.