Shade Guide
A standardized color-matching tool used in dentistry to select the appropriate color (shade) for restorative materials to achieve a visual match with the patient's natural dentition.
Full Definition
A shade guide is a set of physical color tabs or digital references representing standardized tooth colors used to communicate aesthetic requirements between clinicians, patients, and dental technicians. The most widely referenced system is the VITA Classical shade guide, which organizes shades by hue (A, B, C, D) and value (1–4). Editors working on clinical or patient-facing documents should note that shade designations (e.g., A2, B3) are always rendered as a letter–numeral combination without spaces or hyphens. The term 'shade taking' (or 'shade selection') describes the clinical process; 'shade guide' refers to the physical instrument.
Usage
Usage note: Shade designations (e.g., A2, B3) require no space or hyphen between the letter and numeral. Do not italicise or quote shade codes in clinical documents unless journal style requires it.
In Context
- "The shade guide indicated an A2 match for the central incisors, which was documented in the laboratory prescription." — Clinical case report
- "Patient-facing literature should refer to the 'shade guide' process without referencing specific proprietary system names without trademark notation." — Patient information leaflet editorial note