The Applications of Color Theory, Shade Selection and Communication in Restorative Dentistry

“The application of color theory and shade selection in restorative dentistry”

Color theory is a language that conceptually and perceptually describes the elements of color and their interactions. Unfortunately it’s quite a tricky concept, and we all know if the color of a restoration is off it can result in us feeling like we’ve failed and the patient walks away disappointed.

Understanding color is tricky. Slight variances in shade play with our eyes, our minds, and, ultimately, our dentistry. The illumination in the dental treatment room, optical illusions, color blindness, and fatigue are among the dental professional’s ongoing obstacles to successful shade matching. This course will enlighten the dentist and ceramist on the dimensions of color, the effect of metamerism and other phenomenon.

By being fluent in the language of color, we can sharpen our perception of color, better understand existing color dynamics, make better predictions, and communicate more clearly about color.

A review of these concepts as rules and guidelines will be presented in a manner that can be utilized to resolve complex esthetic problems. Armed with this knowledge you can get your restorations to match existing colors more successfully, so your patients leave feeling happy with your restorative outcomes.

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Understand the interactions of light, color, color perception and shade matching.

2. Understand the difference between additive and subtractive color theory.

3. Understand the phenomenon of metamerism, and how it can act as a complicating factor in shade selection.

4. Understand how to make the best shade selection.

5. Learn how and why camera light meters and our own visual system cannot be trusted.

6. Learn 3 simple tricks to improve your ability to select the most correct color.

Speaker

Lane M. Ochi D.D.S., F.A.C.D., F.I.C.D., graduated with honors from the University of Southern California in 1981, where he received the Robert W. Mc Nulty Memorial Award for the highest scholastic achievement. He has been elected to membership in Alpha Tau Epsilon - U.S.C. Dental School Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi - National Society of Scholars, Omicron Kappa Upsilon - National Dental Honor Society, the Pierre Fauchard Academy - International Honor Dental Society, and he is a Fellow in the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists.

He is currently an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and was the Co-director of Occlusion at U.S.C. School of Dentistry. He is on the faculty of RIPE Global the world's best cloud-based learning platform with simulation technology, and serves as a specialist consultant to the Graduate Prosthodontic Program at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in West Los Angeles.

He has lectured to national and international audiences on the subject of aesthetic restorative dentistry and occlusion.

He has received multiple Commendations from the County of Los Angeles for his efforts to promote the health and wellbeing of underserved populations in his community.

Dr. Ochi maintained a full time private practice in Beverly Hills for over forty years with an emphasis on physiologic and aesthetic reconstructive dentistry. His patients include Academy Award winners, former Miss America’s, and some of the most recognized names in the entertainment business.