Tooth colour analysis by a new optoelectronic system.

The difficulties in assessing and comparing tooth shades are well documented. This pilot study introduces an alternative method of photoelectric tooth colour measurement, the silicon photodiode array apparatus. This apparatus was used to determine colorimetric values for samples of acrylic resin teeth and the results compared with colour values obtained using a conventional photoelectric tristimulus colorimeter. Whilst a significant difference was found between some colorimetric data produced by the two types of apparatus for the same sample these differences existed purely at the mathematical level and would not be perceived by a human observer.