ANSWERS

How do I send shade information to a lab?

Send shade information using three layers: a VITA Classical or 3D-Master shade tab reading taken before the tooth dehydrates, two to four calibrated digital photos with the shade tab in frame at the same focal plane as the prep, and written notes on stump shade, translucency, and incisal characterization.

THE SHORT ANSWER

THE FULL PICTURE

Why it works this way

The three-layer shade record

A usable shade record is never one data point. At Dani Dental we ask referring dentists for a shade tab reading, photographic documentation, and a written prescription note covering stump shade plus characterization. Tooth dehydration shifts perceived value within 90 seconds of isolation, so the tab reading has to happen first, before the rubber dam or retraction cord goes in. VITA Classical and VITA 3D-Master are the two systems our ceramists are calibrated to; mixing systems on one case adds a translation step that introduces error.

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Should I take the shade before or after preparation?

Before. Always before. The tooth dehydrates under isolation within 60 to 90 seconds and the perceived value rises by one to two shade tab steps, which means the final restoration comes back too light against a rehydrated adjacent tooth. Take the tab reading and the photographs at the start of the appointment, before anesthesia for sensitive patients, and definitely before any retraction cord, rubber dam, or extended air-drying. Re-check after rehydration if there is any doubt.

Do I need a digital shade scanner or are photos enough?

Photos with a tab in frame are sufficient for the vast majority of posterior cases and most anterior premolars. Spectrophotometer readings from devices like the VITA Easyshade add value on anterior centrals and laterals where the cost of a remake is high. The scanner does not replace photography; it supplements it. Dani Dental accepts Easyshade readings, eLAB protocol photos, and standard DSLR shade documentation. The deciding factor is case complexity, not which device the operatory owns.

What if my patient's shade falls between two tabs?

Write both designations on the prescription and tell us which direction to lean. For example, A2 to A3, lean A2, brighter at the incisal. Our ceramists can build a custom shade between two standard designations using layered porcelain or stain-and-glaze adjustments on monolithic zirconia. The two-shade note plus a photograph of the patient's adjacent natural tooth gives the ceramist enough information to mix correctly. Calling the assigned technician directly on borderline anterior cases is faster than another round of paperwork.

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This answer is one piece of a larger workflow. The pillar page covers materials, turnaround, and how we build the case to your specification.

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