Digital selection of composite resin shade using cross polarized photography and a standardized white balance gray reference card

PURPOSE: The aim of the present case report was to describe, through a clinical case, a step-by-step technique, for the digital selection of composite resin shades using cross polarization and white balance employing a standardized reference card. CASE DESCRIPTION: After intraoral impression, a digital diagnostic wax up was developed. A 3D printed cast was used to fabricate a lingual polyvinyl siloxane matrix. First a cross-polarized image of the contralateral central incisor was taken in RAW format, using a gray reference card. The digital image was manipulated using this card as a reference, to obtain reliable color values. The obtained color values, from the contralateral central incisor, were used in order to digitally find the closest combination of enamel and dentin shades between various composite systems. The values of a combination of shades of composite systems, was captured using cross-polarized images, with a gray reference card, after digital image manipulation of composite specimens, which have been created for this purpose. CONCLUSIONS: Digital evaluation and selection of composite resin system and shade, using a white balance reference card assisted by cross polarized photography, could help achieving more predictable outcomes using the stratification technique with composites. Key words:Restoration shade, composite color, composite resin, direct restoration, digital protocol.