What are Teeth Whitening Shades?

Teeth Whitening dentists evaluate the existing color of a patient’s teeth to determine whether or not the patient is a suitable candidate for this procedure. Teeth Whitening shades refer to the standard method used by dentists to describe the color a patient’s teeth and design a treatment plan accordingly.

A standard method of determining shades also helps in communication between the dentist and the patient. If any additional cosmetic dentistry procedures such as porcelain veneers may be necessary, the dentist can communicate appropriately with the dental lab where the veneers fabrication takes place.

Many teeth whitening dentists follow the Munsell method to determine the shades of teeth. This method categorizes tooth colors on the basis of their hue, chroma and value. Hue refers to the color of teeth, grouped in brown, yellow and grey tones. Chroma refers to the intensity or richness of the color, and value indicates the brightness of the teeth. Hue is the first indicator that tells a dentist whether the patient is a suitable candidate for the whitening procedure.

American Dental Association states that teeth with a yellow tone can be improved substantially with the teeth whitening procedure, compared to teeth with a brown undertone. Grey undertones of teeth indicate that the whitening procedure may not be very effective in improving the shade of the teeth. Most teeth whitening dentists use shade management systems based on visual observation or digital shade matching.

If the dentist uses a visual observation system, he may use a standard shade guide to determine the particular shade of teeth. The shade guide also helps him to communicate to the patient what will be the expected shade of teeth after the procedure is completed. This ensures that the patient has realistic expectations from the procedure and is satisfied with the results. Some dentists prefer digital scanning devices to determine the shade of teeth more accurately before and after the teeth whitening procedure.


Most Teeth Whitening dentists offer the option of in-office and at-home teeth whitening systems to their patients. The patient may choose an option depending on his or her needs. In-office procedure is relatively faster, and the results may also be superior. To find out more visit http://www.bizymoms.com/dentistry/teeth_whitening/index.html