Achieving the Ideal Shade for Complex Restorative Cases

May 4, 2025
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By: Kelley Brummett, DMD 
This Topic Originally Appeared On PankeyGram.Org. Dr. Brummett granted permission for igniteDDS to share with our readers.

Often we have cases where one shade from VITA guide doesn’t seem to match the case due to different shades of adjacent teeth.

A situation occurred in my office when I was working with a patient who needed a 30-year-old PFM crown replaced on #8. I was struggling with the shade because the adjacent teeth were an in between color.

What I did was take a shade photo of the brightest one, which was B1, and then I took a shade photo with A1–because those were the two shades that matched the best. They weren’t what we were looking for.

So, I made a provisional out of the A1 shade and a provisional out of the B1 shade. I took the extra time to place both of them onto the tooth and let the patient look with me and help me decide. The patient chose the A1 shade. 

Improving Dental Lab Communication

With the provisional decision made, I turned my attention to providing the dental lab with all the necessary information.

This included:

  • Accurate and good-lightening photos of the B1 and A1 shades next to the tooth.
  • Images of the B1 and A1 provisional.
  • Multiple aesthetic views of the final A1 provisional placed on the tooth.

In addition to these visuals, I scheduled a phone consultation with the dental lab. By reviewing the photos together, we were able to identify the subtle nuances of the in-between shade, ensuring that the final restoration would blend seamlessly. 

A Happy Patient and a Beautiful Smile

Thanks to this meticulous approach, the final dental crown exceeded expectations. The patient was deeply appreciative of the extra effort and time spent to achieve a restoration that looked completely natural. Their gratitude reinforced the value of effective dental lab communication and patient collaboration.

For more advanced restorative techniques to transform your patients’ outcomes, visit The Pankey Institute and explore their comprehensive educational courses. Invest in your professional growth and transform your approach to dentistry!

Dr. Kelley Brummett, DMD

Dr. Kelley Brummett, DMD

Dr. Kelley D. Brummett was born and raised in Missouri. She attended the University of Kansas on a full-ride scholarship in springboard diving and received honors for being the Big Eight Diving Champion on the 1 meter springboard in 1988 and in 1992. Dr. Kelley received her BA in communication at the University of Kansas and went on to receive her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After practicing nursing, Dr Kelley Brummett went on to earn a degree in Dentistry at the Medical College of Georgia. She has continued her education at the Pankey Institute to further her love of learning and her pursuit to provide quality individual care. Dr. Brummett is a Clinical Instructor at Georgia Regents University and is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Brummett and her husband Darin have two children, Sarah and Sam. They have made Newnan their home. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading and playing with her dogs. Dr. Brummett is an active member of the ADA, GDA, AGDA, and an alumni of the Pankey Institute.

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