The three dimensions of tooth shades
For a physical point of view, shades are defined in three dimensions: value, chroma and hue. VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER follows this scientific system, and comprehensively covers the natural tooth color space with 26 shades. As a result, the system offers exceptionally high process reliability, from precise shade determination to the finished restoration.
Dimension: Value
With VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER, value or lightness is classified in five levels where 1 = light and 5 = dark. This dimension is the most relevant when it comes to matching the right shade.
Dimension: Chroma
The shade intensity describes whether there is a lot or a little of a colored hue. With VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER, the chroma ranges from 1 = low shade saturation to 3 = high shade saturation, with the values 1.5 and 2.5 also occurring.
Dimension: Hue
The dimension of shades includes all mixtures of the primary colors red, blue and yellow. The hue of natural dentition is between yellow and red. With VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER, M is the median hue. R is a redder hue and L is more yellow.
Precise and exact:
Achieve your goals more quickly with process reliability and fewer shade corrections.
Always the right shade:
All natural tooth shades, including intermediate shades, can be clearly defined and communicated.
Systematic:
Based on science, the system enables fast and simple shade determination in three steps. Unlike conventional empirical shade systems, VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER uses a systematic approach to help you achieve your goal.
Tooth shades in the color space:
Comparing VITA classical A1 – D4 and VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER
The VITA classical A1 – D4 system was developed in 1956 based on empirical data, and is the established reference system internationally with16 natural tooth shades. The shade samples are arranged in a practical fashion based on the frequency of natural tooth shades.
Beyond this basic solution, the reproduction of natural tooth shades is raised to a new level with the VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER andits 26 natural tooth shades. Here, the shade samples are arranged so that they systematically cover the entire natural tooth color space.
"VITA is synonymous with leadership and quality when it comes to color in dentistry."
Prof. Rade D. Paravina, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., Houston, USA
"It is hard to believe that 25 years have passed since the introduction of VITA Toothguide 3D-MASTER. It provided two distinctive attributes the dental profession had been requesting for a long time: wider color range and uniform color distribution. This meant better color coverage of natural teeth, facilitated evidence-based tooth whitening (shades 0M1, 0M2 and 0M3), and added darker and redder shades (5M3) that traditional shade guides were lacking.
The scientific model, based on equidistant hue, value and chroma differences among tabs, minimized the guesswork involved in shade matching and shade interpolation.
I was fortunate to have been involved in the development of VITA Linearguide 3D-MASTER and VITA Bleachedguide 3D-MASTER between 2006 and 2008. Linearguide provided additional user friendliness by offering shade matching using only 3 to 7 linearly arranged tabs at a time. Bleachedguide is the only shade guide designed specifically for bleaching monitoring. It capitalized on the advantages of VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER, while the pattern of tooth color changes upon bleaching – becoming lighter, less red, and less chromatic, was fully matched by the dark to light color order of Bleachedguide..
As a long-time collaborator of VITA, it is my pleasure to congratulate you on this significant achievement and jubilee. VITA is synonymous with leadership and quality when it comes to color in dentistry. I am honored and humbled to have had the opportunity to be a small part of your success story."
Prof. Rade D. Paravina, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., Houston, USA
"The communication of shades between the dentist and dental technician has become a lot easier. Information on tooth shades can be expressed more precisely with VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER.
We are now able to work more economically, as complaints about shading are virtually down to zero since we consistently implemented the modern shade system."
Hans Jürgen Lange, Master Dental Technician, Darmstadt, Germany
"VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER can be easily explained to dentists and students because it is simple, logical and naturally describes the tooth shade in the same way as we actually perceive it. In modern dentistry, the more clearly we understand the nature of tooth shades, the better the results we can achieve. For our daily dental practice routine, this means achieving perfectly esthetic results, improving our communication with the dental laboratory and ultimately, meeting patient expectations, which is the most important thing. I would recommend working with VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER to anybody who is involved in esthetic dentistry."
Prof. Dubravka Knezović Zlatarić, DDM, MSD, PhD, Zagreb, Croatia
"VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER simply covers a much greater range of shades. This allows dental technicians to work more precisely. With this system, taking the tooth shade is much easier and more accurate. Tooth shades are an incredibly complex topic. Given everything that I know today, if someone took the VITA Toothguide 3D-MASTER away from me or if it was no longer available, I would reinvent it."
Dr. Babak Varzideh, Dentist, Bocholt, Germany
"I started using VITA ceramics in 2004. As I enter my 20th year of using VITA and working in a general practice with a diverse multicultural demographic, the only accurate shade guide I‘ve found is the VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER. This shade system, combined with VITA’s machinable ceramics, has given me thousands of beautiful restorations in nearly two decades of work."
Dr. Gulshan Murgai, Dentist, London, UK
"With VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER, I can precisely determine every tooth shade, even intermediate shades that are not actually included in the shade guide. Thanks to the linear concept, mixing two shades allows me to very easily achieve the intermediate shade, which is not possible using conventional shade systems. The fact that I can always determine the precise shade is also appreciated by my patients. They can see that they are being treated professionally. This helps increase patient trust."
Benny Au Yeung, dental technician, Hong Kong
VITA Toothguide 3D-MASTER with Bleached Shades
- Tooth shade determination in three steps based on the three dimensions of the color space
- Twenty six natural and systematically arranged tooth shades; in addition, three shades for tooth whitening (VITA Bleached Shades)
VITA Linearguide 3D-MASTER
- Tooth shade determination in two steps using lightness in the first step and chroma in the second
- Simple, intuitive use and a linear approach that facilitates the transition from conventional shade guides to precise shade determination using VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER
- Twenty six natural and systematically arranged tooth shades; in addition, three shades for tooth whitening (VITA Bleached Shades)
VITA Easyshade V
- Precise and reproducible digital tooth shade determination in seconds, thanks to state-of-the-art measuring technology
- Objective and reliable measurements, thanks to LED technology that is unaffected by ambient conditions
- Reliable and cost-effective processes, thanks to exact tooth shade information with the VITA shade standards VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER and VITA classical A1 – D4, providing greater reliability during shade reproduction that reduces the need for shade correction
- Professional planning and verification of bleaching treatments
VITA Easyshade LITE
- Precise and reproducible digital tooth shade determination in seconds, thanks to state-of-the-art measuring technology
- Objective and reliable measurements, thanks to LED technology that is unaffected by ambient conditions
- Reliable and cost-effective processes, thanks to exact tooth shade information with the VITA shade standards VITA SYSTEM 3D-MASTER and VITA classical A1 – D4, providing greater reliability during shade reproduction that reduces the need for shade correction
- Simple and intuitive with just one click, and without previous experience or background information
