Shade Guide
A standardised set of colour reference tabs used in restorative and prosthetic dentistry to communicate the precise tooth colour for laboratory fabrication.
Full Definition
A shade guide is a clinical tool—most commonly the VITA Classical or VITA Toothguide 3D-Master system—used by clinicians to select and record the appropriate tooth colour (shade) for crowns, veneers, dentures, and composite restorations. The selected shade must be documented precisely in laboratory prescriptions using the recognised nomenclature (e.g. A2, B1, OM2). Editors reviewing laboratory instructions and clinical correspondence must ensure shade notation is complete and uses the correct shade system's terminology, as cross-referencing between different shade systems can introduce errors. Patient-facing documents may describe shade selection more generally, but clinical and lab documents require the precise code.
Usage
Usage note: Specify the shade system used (e.g. VITA Classical, 3D-Master) alongside the shade code to avoid inter-system ambiguity in lab prescriptions.
In Context
- "Shade A2 (VITA Classical) selected for upper anterior crown work; note documented prior to tooth preparation." — Clinical notes
- "The laboratory prescription omits shade notation; this must be completed before dispatch." — Quality control checklist