Disclaimer – The tooth shades shown on the chart above do not accurately represent the actual colours. Different computers screens will display slightly different colours.
Many of our patients ask about how to choose the shade of their crowns, bridge or veneers. We use the VITA shade guide similar to the one pictured above.
Natural teeth are of a bone colour much darker than most people realize, and the general idea when choosing the shade for your new crowns, bridgework or veneers, unless you’re having a complete, all tooth makeover, is to choose a shade that’s 2-3 stages lighter than your natural teeth.
Beware! – Zirconia crowns / veneers are stainless, which is good for you if you like your tea or red wine, but they cannot be lightened or easily darkened afterwards.
As a rough guide to tooth colour shades that’s easy to remember, I think of them as:
- A shades are for typically American smiles
- B shades for a more natural British smile
- C shades for a continental smile
- W shades for witches, warlords and other wicked people 😉
But seriously, the arrangement of the shades in the VITA classical family of shades is as follows:
A (reddish-brownish)
B (reddish-yellowish)
C (greyish shades)
D (reddish-grey)
I hope that helps. If I can answer any more of your questions, please let me know in the comments box below.