There are many reasons why you would want to know the shade of your teeth. Especially with dental treatments, it is important to know what your tooth shade is to achieve optimal results. Treatments such as tooth whitening, veneers, dental implants, crowns, and even fillings are all benefited by knowing your correct tooth shade.
Although every dentist has their own system of determining tooth shade, there is one common method that can be used. This method is using a shade guide as a reference point for teeth comparison. A shade guide has four main categories for comparison based on different shade regions.
The first category, A, shows a sample of teeth ranging from white to reddish brown. The next category, B, shows another sample of teeth ranging from white to reddish yellow. Category C shows a sample of teeth ranging from white to gray. And, finally, category D shows a sample of teeth ranging from white to reddish gray.
Within these categories, there are different shades ranging from light to dark. The variation of the shades depends on the shade guide being used. For example, some shade guides only have four shades for each category, while others may have more. Using a four-shade guide, most people have teeth that are A3 in color, meaning that they are somewhat reddish brown. This is considered the average, natural tooth shade.
Nowadays, however, many people want their teeth to look whiter and brighter and are requesting that their A3 teeth improve in color. When undergoing whitening treatments, many people request that their teeth be brought to a B1 level. The B1 shade is commonly thought to be the whitest shade, but this is not the case.
The B1 shade used to be the whitest shade for natural teeth. Now, with the introduction of bleaching products, the once natural shade has become much lighter. There are now colors even lighter than the lightest B1 shade. These colors are often referred to as Hollywood shades, since they are whiter than any naturally occuring teeth.
In addition to using shade guides to determine the color of your teeth for possible whitening procedures, they can also be used for other dental treatments such as dental veneers. Veneers are used when your teethare too discolored or damaged for a whitening treatment to be effective. They are a thin layer of porcelain that is adhered to your existing teeth with the intent of matching them.
In the case of veneers, your tooth shade is important for one of two reasons. The first reason being that if you are only putting veneers on one or even a couple of teeth, you will want them to blend in with your existing teeth. Thus, your tooth shade must be determined so the veneers can be manufactured in that shade and blend accordingly. The second reason would be if you are getting veneers on all your teeth and you desire these veneers to have a whiter color than your existing teeth. In this case, you would need to know your tooth shade to know the level of whitening you desire.
FAQs
A1 vs B1 Tooth Color
Logically, one might think that A1 is the whitest tooth shade because A is the first letter in the alphabet. However, the B1 tooth shade is actually the lightest, followed by A1. This is by virtue of its coloring (reddish yellow) as opposed to the coloring of A teeth (reddish brown).
What are the colour shades of teeth? ›
The Vita Shade Guide categorises original tooth shade into four main shades with a range of sixteen tones: A for reddish brown tooth colour. B for reddish yellow tooth colour. C for grey tooth shades.
What is the most popular denture color? ›
The three most common shades that are used are what I call natural (A2), natural white (A1), or Hollywood white (B1) and the two uncommon ones are what I call natural dark (A3) and sparkling white (010).
How can I tell what shade my teeth are? ›
A frequently used reference tool, a shade guide shows teeth in basic shades ranging from the lightest to darkest natural colors. Various shade guides exist for dental offices, but a common guide has four basic shade ranges to determine what shade your teeth are: A (reddish-brown) B (reddish-yellow)
Is B1 shade white enough? ›
The B1 shade used to be the whitest shade for natural teeth. Now, with the introduction of bleaching products, the once natural shade has become much lighter. There are now colors even lighter than the lightest B1 shade.
Is B2 lighter than A1? ›
Is B2 or A1 whiter? A1 is whiter than B2. The order of whitest shade of teeth is B1, A1, B2, A2 and so on.
What is the most common tooth shade? ›
Results showed that A3 was the most common classical tooth shade respectively.
What is the best shade of white teeth? ›
The ideal shade of white targeted during teeth whitening treatments is a few shades lighter than the white of the patient's eyes. Whitening treatments can make teeth whiter than that, but the results typically would not look natural compared to the rest of the patient's physical features.
What is the whitest denture color? ›
One of the whitest shade is known as b1. If you're looking for a more natural shade of white we suggest you compare a1 to b1 tooth color. A1 resembles a darker shade of white than b1.
What are the most expensive dentures you can get? ›
Implant-supported dentures: The cost of surgery and in-office procedures make implant-supported dentures the most expensive option, especially without insurance. Some online estimates range from $8,000 to $20,000.
Many people agree flexible dentures are the most comfortable because they hug the contours and grooves of the gums without brushing or irritating soft tissues. Flexible dentures are thin, pliable, and lightweight, so they're not nearly as bulky or clunky as traditional dentures.
What are the most realistic looking dentures? ›
Porcelain is harder than acrylic. This makes dentures more durable. Also, porcelain dentures provide excellent aesthetics since the replacement teeth look a lot more like natural teeth. This material is better for bearing the daily wearing of teeth while we talk, chew or bite.
What color makes your teeth look the whitest? ›
Make your teeth look whiter – Darker shades like royal/navy blue, purple, and even black can make the color of your teeth appear whiter. Even so, be aware that colors like dark green and brown can look like food. What about white braces – Although this may be a color you were thinking of, you may want to stray away.
How to choose tooth shade? ›
Perform shade selection at eye level. Evaluate shades under multiple light sources/conditions. Perform shade matching before tooth desiccation occurs at the beginning of treatment. Quickly complete shade matching/selection to avoid eye fatigue/strain.
How many shades of dentures are there? ›
The 16 natural tooth shades have been supplemented by three bleach shades, which play a particularly important role in North America.
Can you whiten A1 teeth? ›
A1 or B1, both are suitable for teeth whitening. The main goal of teeth whitening is to remove the natural yellowish hue on the teeth and make them look naturally white. Therefore, either of these shades will restore your smile aesthetics.
Is A1 a good shade for veneers? ›
A1 is one of the most natural looking of the three shades. It gives the look of a natural tooth in most lighting conditions. A2 is slightly brighter than A1 and often achieves a more youthful look. However, it can be more difficult to blend well with natural teeth, so it may not be the best option for all patients.
Is B1 a good color for veneers? ›
That being said, many people opt for shades that closely resemble natural teeth. This includes shades like A1 (a light yellowish-white), A2 (a slightly darker shade with more warmth), and B1 (a bright white). These shades tend to blend seamlessly with existing teeth while still providing a bright and radiant smile.
What is the difference between A1 and A2 denture color? ›
Within these shades, either A, B, C or D, the shades are classified by a number from the lightest, 1, to the darkest and most intense, 4. Thus, a shade A1 will be a reddish-brown shade, just like shade A2, but the latter will be darker.
