Clinical Evaluation of the Crystaleye Spectrophotometer^®

Objectives: The purpose of this study is clinical evaluation of the Crystaleye Spectrophotometer^® for dental use.

Methods: Color measurements of the upper left anterior incisor were performed under two conditions (a dark room and a lighted room) and analyzed the effect of exterior lighting on color measurements. Repeated color measurements accuracy of the upper left anterior incisor were performed 10 times by the same operator and color differences △E between the 1st through the 10th measurement were calculated. Five operators measured the upper left anterior incisor using Crystaleye Spectrophotometer^® and color differences △E among 5 operators were calculated. Crowns were fabricated using Crystaleye Spectrophotometer^®, and color difference △E between target teeth and crowns were calculated. Data were analyzed using student t-test and Scheffe's multiple comparison test.

Results: The mean color difference△E values between 2 conditions were less than 0.4 and there was no significant difference between 2 conditions(p<0.05). The mean color difference △E values of 10 repeated measurements by the same operator were less than 0.6. Also, the analyzed data of 5 operators showed no significant difference among 5 operators (p<0.05). Color difference △E values between target teeth and crowns were less than 3.6. Conclusion: These results suggested that Crystaleye Spectrophotometer^® can analyze tooth colors simply and have sufficient measurement accuracy in clinical dentistry.