As you know, tooth enamel is injured every day. It is regularly exposed to the harmful effects of drinks, food and other products passing through the oral cavity, which destroy it. In normal condition, teeth have a white tint, which indicates their he alth and the absence of the need for treatment.
But all sorts of deviations from this norm in the form of an unpleasant yellowish coating indicate the formation of harmful factors that can provoke he alth problems. The special Vita scale makes it possible to determine the true color of the enamel.
Some information
It is this device that helps dentists to identify all kinds of defects and distinguish he althy teeth from damaged ones. Initially, this unpretentious table was used to determine the shade of future orthopedic structures. But as soon as whitening systems appeared in dentistry, an accurate assessment of the preliminary and final effect of enamel lightening became impossible to imagine without such a tricky invention as the Vita scale.
What causes natural color
The natural shade of the teeth depends on numerous conditions:
- genetics;
- susceptibility to various diseases;
- compliance with basic hygiene;
- consumption of certain drinks and foods;
- bone strength level.
Due to the fact that the enamel mostly consists of inorganic elements, its color from nature can vary significantly from person to person. At the same time, the teeth themselves can be completely he althy and not damaged.
Prerequisites for color change
Usually only a few people on the planet are happy owners of a dazzling smile. Often the enamel darkens due to various reasons, the main ones are:
- illiterate cleaning;
- excess consumption of caffeinated beverages;
- cigarette smoking;
- age changes;
- various pathologies;
- eating foods containing dyes;
- deficiency of essential vitamins;
- excess of certain minerals.
What is the scale
To determine the shade of enamel, dentists use a special table. In fact, the Vita scale is a regular list with images that simplifies the visual perception of the color of the teeth, with letters and numbers. It is customary to use such a table not only in Russia, but throughout Europe.
The Vita Teeth Color Scale is the most popular dental aid around the world. It is produced in various types and from different materials:
- paper;
- plastic;
- laminated cardboard;
- ceramics.
Visually, this device is a kind of rail, to which several categories of tooth models are attached, which differ from each other:
- A - red-brown colors.
- B - red-yellow.
- C - grey.
- D - red-gray.
Besides this, to the right of the indicated letters there are also numbers that indicate the brightness: 1 is the most saturated color, and 4 is the dullest. Thus, on the Vita scale, first of all, the letter variety of the shade is determined, and then its digital designation.
When used
The Vita shade scale is used by dentists to determine the natural tone, as well as to identify all kinds of pathologies and defects. If a significant difference from the norm is found, the doctor will begin appropriate therapy. In other words, the Vita tooth color scale is a kind of hint that helps at the moment of visual examination of patients.
This device is not always used by dentists, but only when necessary. For example, when a patient wants to whiten their enamel or improve their natural smile by straightening it. Among other things, the Vita scale may be required by the doctor at the time of selection and installation of ceramic implants. In general, the scope of this tool is quite wide.
How shades of teeth are determined on the Vita scale
After examining the patient, the first thing the dentist will pay attention to is the color and brightness of the enamel. It is for this that he will need a scale, which is used as an auxiliary tool. It represents exhibitors from several different categories. First of all, the dentist will find out which of these groups the colors of the examined enamel belong to, and will conduct a comparative analysis. In this way, some deviations from the norm are diagnosed, requiring appropriate therapy.
For a sufficiently accurate determination of the shade, the patient should prepare in advance by cleaning the teeth from plaque accumulated throughout the day. True, often this is not enough, and the dentist has to additionally carry out mechanical cleaning. Only after this simple event, the dentist will be able to determine the natural color of the teeth on the Vita scale without any problems and give appropriate instructions for caring for them.
As you know, the incisors of each person have different shades in different departments. It is for this reason that their color using the scale is determined in several places. The shade of the teeth in the cervical region is usually determined by the age of the patient and the state of he alth of the periodontal tissues. For example, in young people with intact tissues, the enamel in this area has a grayish tint, and brownish gradually begins to predominate with age. It is worth taking into account the fact that in the cervical part it is the thinnest, and in the cutting section it is the densest.
The lightest colorsteeth on the Vita scale: A0, A1, A 2 and A3. It is the first shade that is considered ideal. But each person must understand that the teeth of all people have individual characteristics, just like other parts of the body. Therefore, flawless shades on the Vita scale are far from achievable for everyone, even with the use of the highest quality enamel whitening.
What affects the perception of hue
It should be said that the determination of the tone of the enamel by the dentist may be incorrect due to the influence of some factors:
- poor lighting in treatment room;
- insufficient cleaning;
- presence of concomitant pathology.
It is very important to first remove all sorts of obstacles to more accurately determine the shade of the teeth using the Vita scale. This is the only way to identify all existing defects and proceed to their fruitful elimination.
The following conditions are considered perfect when performing the procedure:
- the enamel was thoroughly cleaned from plaque;
- full lighting in the treatment room, supplemented by fluorescent lamps;
- the patient is wearing light-colored clothing.
Environmental factors
It is best to carry out the procedure in daylight with sufficient bright light. The use of all kinds of lamps can significantly distort the perception of colors. The light should come from the north side. And the illumination of the examined tooth should not exceed 1500 lux. If this figure is higher than expected, then the dentist may think thatthe patient's enamel is much lighter than it really is. In professional clinics that use the Vita scale for whitening, there are usually special designs equipped with lamps. Such systems make it possible to determine the shade of tooth enamel with maximum accuracy.
Surprisingly, the environment also plays an important role. The optimal interior is one in which the walls, ceiling and furniture are painted in neutral colors. This also applies to the doctor's sterile gloves and wipes that are placed on the patient's chest.
When determining the color using the Vita scale, the condition of the teeth should be monitored: they must be sufficiently moistened, but under no circumstances remain dry. At this time, women should get rid of flashy makeup and lipstick.
If the dentist uses a rubber dam during whitening, then he must determine the natural shade of the teeth before applying it. Otherwise, it should have a neutral, gray color.
Exact matches are very rare due to the fact that the enamel of different teeth of one person can vary significantly. Before you go to the dentist, you should choose the right clothes. After all, a snow-white or too bright outfit can complicate the work of a dentist, because in daylight such things will reflect and slightly distort the perception of a natural shade.
Determination procedure
In fact, if all the described conditions are exactly met, thean event to identify the natural shade of tooth enamel is not difficult. First of all, the dentist determines one of the four categories of color, then alternately applies the Vita scale to the incisors.
After identifying the correct shade, you should find out its brightness. To do this, in turn, all options of the selected category are applied to the patient's teeth. The initial color and the color obtained during the whitening process is mandatory recorded in the dental record.
By the way, the determination of the natural tone of the enamel can be done at home. The Vita scale can come in handy for those who use household whitening products, such as special brightening strips, baking soda, dental pencils, or simple hydrogen peroxide.
Conclusion
In general, the process of revealing the tone of enamel using the Vita scale is a fairly simple and even pleasant procedure. Especially when the color of the patient's teeth gradually approaches the ideal during whitening.
As the practice of dentists shows, in the modern industry, the Vita scale is a truly indispensable tool that is used all over the world. Without this seemingly simple device, it would be extremely difficult to diagnose many diseases and even more so whiten your teeth to the desired shade.
