CONTRAST EFFECTS

CONTRAST EFFECTS

Optical illusions:

The phenomenon of contrast effect can alter the perception of color

considerably, as well as the ability to evaluate color in a clear, concise, and objective

way. The phenomenon is dramatically demonstrated in figure. The purple-colored

figures are all of equal length and size; however, owing to the optic illusion of

converging lines, as our eyes move to the right side of the diagram, it appears that the

far right figure is considerably larger than the far left figure

Perspective; the figures are of all equal length and size; however, owing to the

optical illusion of converging lines , as our eyes move to the right side diagram , it

appears that the far right figure is considerably larger.

Yamamoto described the various contrast effects in detail in his textbook on

metal-ceramic restorations; it is a worthy reference. In order to use colors effectively, it

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is essential to understand that value, chroma and contrasts between an object

and its background may severely influence color perception.

There are four categories of contrast effects:

Simultaneous Contrast :

When at least two objects are viewed at the same time.

Areal contrast :

When the same colors are observed, appearing in diffferent size areas.

Spatial contrast :

When the same colors are observed in different positional relationships.

Successive contrast :

When one color is observed after viewing another.

Simultaneous Contrast :

Simultaneous contrast is discerned when two objects are observed

simultaneously. It may be further subcategorized as light/dark contrast and color

contrast (hue and chroma).

Light/ Dark contrast :

Visual judgement of brightness may not be dependable,since the relative

brightness of an object is affected by the brightness of the contrasting background or

surroundings. For example, if the surrounding background is dark, an object appears

brighter; if the surrounding background is light, the object is perceived as less bright .

The perceived brightness is inaccurate, even though the reflectivity of the object is

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constant. The retina is very sensitive to changes in light, and the phenomenon is

the result of the interpretation of these changes by the brain.

The relative brightness is affected by the contrasting back-ground, owing to the light and
dark contrasts. Even though the teeth represented are in the same light/ darkness , the
background influences the appearance (the upper left is lighter; lower right is darker).

A ceramic crown against a dark background appears considerably lighter than

against a light background.

The same ceramic crown against a light back-ground appears considerably

darker.

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A practical example of this phenomenon is inflamed gingival tissues. The

redness of the gums - and consequently the background - act to distort our color

perception abilities. The restoration invariably appears too bright when it actually is

too dark. When the tissues heal, the crown is too low in value, since the perception

indicated that the crown was of the correct shade.

The redness of inflamed gingival tissue , for example , distorts our

perception.This phenomenon has a significant clinical importance :if the shade is
taken while the gingival tissues are inflamed , the tooth will appear to be lighter ,
and the color selected will be too dark.

When the inflamed tissues heal, and the color returns to normal , the selected
crown value may be too low (dark).

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HUE CONTRAST:

When two chromatic colors are combined, the perceived hue varies closer to the

complementary color than to that of the background . The perceived hue of the mock

tooth against a red background takes on a green color tone; against a green

background it takes on a red hue against a yellow background its hue is purple; and

against a purple background it appears to be yellow. Note how the same A3 Vitapan

shade tab appears to be quite different in hue when imaged against a red versus a

blue background. We use this phenomenon to our advantage when taking shades by

preconditioning our eyes to see tooth shades more effectively. For instance, tooth

shades fall predominantly into the orange hue family, and if we want to be able to see

the orange tones more discriminately, we can precondition our eyes by first looking at

a light blue background, i.e. immediately prior to the shade selection process. The

closer the colors-to-be-combined are to the complementary colors, the more vibrant

they appear, owing to mutual repulsion.

When two chromatic colors are combined, the perceived hue varies closer to the
complementary color than to that of the background.

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The perceived hue of a tooth against a blue background appears to be orange

A metal-ceramic crown against a blue background appears to be orange in hue

Placed against an orange background, a metal-ceramic tooth appears to be blue

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Placed against an orange background, a metal-ceramic tooth appears to be blue

in hue.

Placed against a yellow-background , the tooth appears to be purple

Placed against a yellow-background, a metal ceramic tooth appears to be purple

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Placed against a purple - background, the tooth appears to be yellow

Placed against a purple-background, a metal –ceramic crown appears to be

yellow

The hue of an A3 vitapan shade tab against a black background takes on a

brighter appearance

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The same A3 vitapan shade tab appears quite different when placed agsinst blue-
background –its takes on a darker , more orange hue.

Mutual replusion.The closer the colors to be combined are to the complementary

colors, the more vibrant they appear.
CHROMA CONTRAST:

This contrast follows the same effect as the value and hue contrasts. This

phenomenon follows the effects generated by light/dark contrast as well as hue. An

image appears darker against a light background, which is low in chroma (light), and

brighter against a more chromatic background, which is high in chroma (dark).

However, there is a variation to the theme: the closer the tooth is to the hue and

chroma of the surrounding background, the less visible it becomes, and therefore it is

difficult to distinguish the shade of the tooth.

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Against a background that is low in chroma, the tooth appears much more vibrant

when compared to the same tooth against a background that closely matches the

chroma of the tooth. The ceramic tooth against the orange background is not as

visible because the orange is a similar chroma. The ceramic tooth against the

yellow-orange background is even less visible because the background very

closely approximates the tooth’s chroma.

AREAL CONTRAST:

Visual color perception is also influenced by the size of the object. optical illusion

is present even though the object reflects the same wavelength of light in the visible

spectrum. The size of the object can also influence visual color perception. For

instance, a larger object appears brighter than a smaller object of the same color.

Likewise, a brighter object appears to be larger than a darker object of the same size.

This type of contrast accounts for the fact that darker clothes have a tendency to make

an individual look smaller and thinner, while whiter clothes tend to make the individual

appear larger and heavier.

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Area contrast.visual color perception is also influenced by the size of the object:
a large-size object will appear lighter, a small-size darker.

Example of Area contrast as perceived in maxillary central (larger, brighter) and

lateral (smaller, darker) incisors. Even though the crowns are the same (A2)
shade, they appear much brighter since they are physically much larger.

SPATIAL CONTRAST:

Spatial contrast can be equated to brightness and size as well. An object that is

more recessed will appear to be smaller in size and not as bright; an object closer to

the observer will appear larger and brighter . This phenomenon is frequently seen with

rotated and overlapped teeth. The teeth that are recessed appear to be darker, they

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tend to be more difficult to clean. However, once the stain is removed, the teeth will

still appear darker, owing to the spatial contrast.

Posterior teeth appear to be darker, since they are more recessed in the oral

cavity. The shadows in the mouth further contribute to the darker appearance.

Spatial contrast. An object that is more recessed will appear to be smaller.

Spatial contrast. Teeth that are most recessed appear to be darker.

Posterior teeth appear to be darker because they are more recessed in the oral
cavity.

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Teeth that are rotated and/or recessed relative to the adjacent teeth appear to be darker.
The clinical example on the right shows a mandibular right central incisor that appears
darker than the other teeth because of its recessed position.

VALUE CONTRAST:

Visual judgment of brightness is not dependable, primarily because the relative

brightness of an object is affected by the brightness of the contrasting background or

surroundings. For example, if the surrounding background is dark, an object will

appear light. However, if the same object is placed against a lighter background, it is

perceived as darker.

This illustrates that the perceived brightness can vary, even though the

reflectivity of the object is constant. This is because the retina is very sensitive to light.

It expands and contracts in response to varying light intensities as they are interpreted

by the brain. If the background is darker than the object, the retina must adapt to the

relatively brighter object, causing the brain to perceive it as brighter than it would be if

the object were viewed by itself. If the background is lighter than the object, the

opposite effect results. However, because the eye adapts much more quickly from

dark to light than from light to dark, the effect of a darker object on a lighter

background is always more pronounced.

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A practical dental example of this phenomenon is when a restoration is

viewed adjacent to inflamed gingival tissues.The redness (darkness) of the gums

(background) distorts color perception, making the restoration (object) appear

brighter. As a result, a crown that is too low in value (dark) may be chosen. The

mistake becomes apparent when the tissues heal and the crown appears too dark

because the shade was selected falsely dark under those pretenses and poor

shade selection conditions.

The value contrast effect makes the same tooth appear increasingly lighter as the
background becomes darker.

Value contrast effects have clinical significance when dealing with excessively
inflamed gingival tissues. The dark value of the inflamed gums will trick the eyes
into perceiving the tooth shade as being lighter than it actually is. As a result, the
fabricated restoration will appear too dark once the tissues have healed.

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SUCCESSIVE CONTRAST:

Successive contrast is a phenomenon that presents itself when one color is

observed following the observation of another color. An afterimage (visual experience)

is an example of successive contrast when the visual perception remains after the eye

has left the object. Afterimages are categorized as positive (similar) or negative

(different). Positive afterimages have the same color as the original perception;

negative afterimages have the opposite or complementary color to the original

perception. Positive afterimages occur following a short visual interaction, while

negative afterimages occur after a long visual contact with an object.

The physiochemical effect is that the neurotransmitter “rodopsin” in the cones of

the retina are quickly depleted during prolonged staring. Therefore, the ability to see

that color is no longer a physical reality. Note how - by changing the background paper

- the phenomenon of value, chroma, and hue contrast affects the appearance of the

veneers of teeth #8 and #9.

Placed against a gray background, the object will appear lighter in color.

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Clinical representation of the light/dark contrast. Postoperative view of the

maxillary central incisors restored with ceramic veneers. Note the translucency of
the incisal edges against dark background.

Placed against a white background, the maxillary central incisors restored with
ceramic veneers. Note the difference of the incisal edges and the darker
appearance of the teeth

Placed against a blue background, the ceramic veneers take on orange

appearance.

Placed against a yellow background, the ceramic veneers take on purple

appearance.

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Placed against a purple background, the ceramic veneers take on a yellow

appearance.

Placed against a red background, the ceramic veneers take on a green

appearance.

Placed against a green background, the ceramic veneers take on a red

appearance.

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CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF CONTRAST EFFECTS

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COLOR IN DENTISTRY:

One of the best descriptions of the importance of color was offered by Bergen.

He said “Color is unimportant to the physiologic success of a dental restoration, yet it

could be the controlling factor in the overall acceptance by the patient’’.

Dental professionals are routinely performing matching, replication, and/or

creation of color of hard and soft oral tissues, while maxillofacial prosthodontists are

dealing with color in the entire maxillofacial area. Therefore, this section is related to

color of teeth, gingiva, and skin.

Familiarity with the basics of color is essential to the understanding of

color‐related clinical and dental technology applications. What is the practical meaning

of ΔE* values? What ΔE*

corresponds to perfect match, perceptibility, and acceptability thresholds (wait, what is

color threshold)? A ΔE* of 0 corresponds to perfect match—it is rarely seen and not

really necessary. Visual thresholds are also known as industry tolerances, and these

differ from one industry to another. A 50:50 perceptibility threshold is the difference in

color that can be detected by 50% of observers. The other 50% of observers will

notice no difference in color between the compared objects. A nearly perfect color

match in dentistry is a color difference at or below the 50:50 perceptibility threshold. A

50:50 acceptability threshold is the difference in color that is considered acceptable by

50% of observers. The other 50% of observers would replace the restoration or correct

its color. An acceptable color match in dentistry is a color difference at or below the

50:50 acceptability threshold.

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TOOTH COLOR:

Color of human teeth differs by dentition: permanent teeth are darker and less

chromatic than primary teeth. It differs by individual and by tooth type for the same

person: incisors are in general the lightest while the canines are the darkest and most

chromatic. It also differs for the same tooth, by the tooth area: from gingival to incisal,

mesial to distal and buccal to lingual and throughout the lifetime; “older” teeth are in

general darker and more chromatic.

The following color coordinate ranges of permanent teeth were reported: L*

ranged from 56 to 90, a* ranged from − 4 to 7, b* ranged from 4 to 39, C* ranged from −

4 to 39, while H* ranged from 73 to 119.15 When color of permanent teeth was

compared by gender: female teeth were lighter, less red, and less chromatic, and the

overall color difference (ΔE*) was 3.0. The same was found for comparisons between

bleached and nonbleached teeth, and teeth of smokers and nonsmokers: bleached and

nonsmoker teeth were lighter, less red, and less chromatic, with ΔE*=4.6 and 3.4,

compared to nonbleached and smoker teeth, respectively.16 In general, lighter teeth

are less chromatic and less red, regardless of all variables mentioned above. Based on

the literature, the 50:50 perceptibility threshold for teeth ranges from ΔE* of 1 to 2, 17,

18 while the 50:50 acceptability threshold ranges from ΔE* of 2.7 to 3.5.

GINGIVAL COLOR:

Color range of healthy human gingiva is far beyond the “ideal” light pink. A

lightness range from 27 to 81, a* range from 4 to 38, and b* range from 5 to 27 were

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reported.20 Wide ranges of color coordinates make restoring color of the gingiva

more challenging whether dental materials (ceramics, acrylic, or composite resins) or

human tissues are used. Restorations that do not primarily involve gingiva can also

affect its color: partial dentures, implants, crowns, and veneers. Inflammation and tooth

whitening can also cause reversible color changes of gingival tissues.

SKIN COLOR:

There are numerous reports of dissatisfaction with the longevity, function,

esthetics, or color stability of facial prostheses. When perceptibility and acceptability

thresholds for human skin replications were evaluated, significant differences were

found by primary specimen color and type of threshold. CIELAB perceptibility thresholds

for light and dark skin replications were 1.1 and 1.6, respectively. Corresponding values

for acceptability thresholds were 3.0 and 4.4, respectively.

BRIEF HISTORY OF COLOR IN DENTISTRY:

Color matching remains a "trial and error" method, in which the professional

places shade guides in the mouth with the purpose of establishing the best match,

ignoring the characteristics of color and natural phenomena that change tooth color.

Since the first color shade guides made an appearance early in the 20th century, they

were designed to match the color of natural teeth with no particular arrangement or

method (1). In 1929 shade guides were classified by tonalities. In 1939 the "Lumin

effect" (color consistency) was described in natural teeth, and this led to the birth of

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dental shade guides as we know them today (2), providing us since that time with

important but limited information.

The best- known shade guide ,the Vita lumin vacuum guide (Vident) has

existed since 1956, and its philosophy is still revelant today. It was not until 1998 that

researchers attempted to develop a different shade guide,the Vita 3D Master,but the

only changes made in this new system were a different nomenclature scheme.

Electronic color matching is showing very positive and promising data, but much

technology remains to be developed and evolved before perfectly reliable data can be

obtained from these methods.

Recent attempts to produce a different color matching system date back only a

few years. These include selective and personalized color matching based on

scientific color principles and the differentiation of the diverse tissues of the tooth.

The future of color matching in dentistry will most likely in a combination of

personalized color matching and digital imaging technology.

THE FIVE BASIC COLORS OF TOOTH:

There are five color shades that form a natural tooth; the combination of

these colors enables production of an incredibly extensive chromatic range. 51

ACCORDING TO THE TISSUE:

Each of the five basic colors is commonly found at particular locations of the

different dental tissues.

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YELLOW/ORANGE: Dentin

WHITE: Enamel and internal Enamel characteristics

BLUE: Free Enamel opalescence

AMBER: Opalescence, counteropalescence and various enamel and dentin

characteristics

ACCORDING TO THE LOCATION :

Each of the different shades present in a tooth has a specific location, offering features
and optical properties common to most tooth.

YELLOW/ORANGE : Cervical and middle thirds

WHITE : Mammelons , incisal halo , occlusal and facial surfaces

BLUE : incisal edge and proximal surfaces

AMBER: Incisal halo, incisal edge and facial surfaces ( characteristics)

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THE IN LAYER :
We call the dentin the In Layer, We call the dentin the In layer, because it

is located on the inside and is the deepest in the stratification.

The base Chroma (Hue and Chroma) is given by the dentin, which

dominates the chromatic nature of teeth. Dentin is the most abundant tissue in

the tooth; it provides resistance and elasticity to the dental complex. Despite its

apparent similarity to enamel, dentin is physically and optically completely

different. Generally, dentin is reddish yellow and has a high chromaticity and a

remarkable opacity. It is also a highly fluorescent tissue, because of the presence

of certain proteins, such as photochrome.

The physiologic aging process causes changes in dentinal color

throughout life. The dentinal thickness increases, while the diameter of the

tubules, the volume of the pulp, and the permeability and opacity of the dentin

decrease.

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Under normal conditions there are two types of dentin, the primary dentin,

developed since the formation of tooth germ, and the secondary dentin, which

usually begins its formation at the moment of contact with the opposing tooth and

continues throughout life. The difference between developmental periods

changes the optical properties of both kinds of dentin, which is why the

desaturation phenomenon occurs: The center of the tooth is more chromatic, and

closer to the surface the dentin becomes less saturated. For example, in an A2

tooth, the dentin near the pulp would likely be shade A3.

The gradual change of Chroma is also evident from the cervical third to the

incisal third; the closer to the incisal edge, the more desaturated and more

opaque the dentin will be.51

THE IN LAYER :

We call the dentin the In Layer, We call the dentin the In layer, because it

is located on the inside and is the deepest in the stratification.

The base Chroma (Hue and Chroma) is given by the dentin, which dominates

the chromatic nature of teeth. Dentin is the most abundant tissue in the tooth; it

provides resistance and elasticity to the dental complex. Despite its apparent

similarity to enamel, dentin is physically and optically completely different. Generally,

dentin is reddish yellow and has a high chromaticity and a remarkable opacity. It is

also a highly fluorescent tissue, because of the presence of certain proteins, such as

photochrome.

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The physiologic aging process causes changes in dentinal color throughout

life. The dentinal thickness increases, while the diameter of the tubules, the volume

of the pulp, and the permeability and opacity of the dentin decrease.

Under normal conditions there are two types of dentin, the primary dentin,

developed since the formation of tooth germ, and the secondary dentin, which

usually begins its formation at the moment of contact with the opposing tooth and

continues throughout life. The difference between developmental periods changes

the optical properties of both kinds of dentin, which is why the desaturation

phenomenon occurs: The center of the tooth is more chromatic, and closer to the

surface the dentin becomes less saturated. For example, in an A2 tooth, the dentin

near the pulp would likely be shade A3.

The gradual change of Chroma is also evident from the cervical third to the

incisal third; the closer to the incisal edge, the more desaturated and more opaque

the dentin will be.51

To achieve faultless restorations, one of the most important features we must

consider is the appropriate level of translucency and opacity. The dentin acts as a

very efficient opaquer: It hides dark colors but can let light pass through efficiently.

Several studies have reported numeric data for the translucency and opacity

of several restorative materials. Therefore it is relevant to become acquainted with

the translucency parameters of natural enamel and dentin. In this way, we will be

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able to choose the appropriate composite resin in each clinical situation. For

example, if we are fabricating a small restoration that will be placed in healthy

surrounding tissue, we would be interested in a more translucent material to display

and reflect the underlying tooth structure. For a large restoration, we would suggest

an opaque material for buildup, because if it were too translucent it would be unable

to mask the black background of the oral cavity.

Scientific studies have determined the translucency of 1 mm of human dentin

and human enamel to range between 16.4. and 18.7. For comparison, the same

thickness of several composites showed values between 6.3 and 17.2. Higher

numbers correspond to a higher translucency; in a completely opaque material, the

translucency would be valued at 0.0.

There are significant differences in the opacity of the dentin composites

available from various composite manufacturers. Understanding the opacity and

translucency of the different brands is mandatory in order for the professional to

select the correct composite resin.51

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In the young tooth,the dentin has low chromaticity. The high value enamel hides
the dentinal color and increases the overall value of the tooth.

In the adult tooth,the dentin has moderate chromaticity.The enamel slightly

increases values of the entire tooth.

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In the older tooth, the dentin has high chromaticity. The enamel increases the
value of the tooth very little.

ELASTICITY:

Dentin is the most resistant human tissue, despite not being the hardest, and is

responsible for supporting the enamel, which is a much harder tissue and brittle in the

absence of its substrate. Dentin has a surprising resistance to traction, compression,

and shear forces.51

FLUORESCENCE:

A large percentage of the light that hits the dentin is reflected back. This light

is returned with more energy than the original, because such tissues are fluorescent

and possess photochrome and fluorophore. What is fluorescence? In dentistry it can

be defined as absorption of UV by a structure and the spontaneous emission of

visible light within the visible light spectrum. What is responsible for the

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fluorescence? The dentin layer and its proteins that bind it to the enamel are the

most fluorescent

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compounds in the body. Enamel is also fluorescent but to a considerably

lesser degree.

The fluorescence phenomenon is evident under fluorescent light but still

stands out significantly, although less obviously, under natural light. Because some

invisible light is bounced back from the teeth with . higher energy (visible ·light), it

imparts vitality to natural teeth; a lack of fluorescence is associated with devitalized

teeth, pathologic conditions, or prosthetic teeth.

The use of fluorescent materials has marked a revolution in esthetic dentistry.

In the beginning, these materials had a large number of detractors, and many did not

regard fluorescence as having even the slightest importance to esthetics. Today,

any restorative material that lacks fluorescence is not considered to be an optimal

esthetic material.

Endodontically treated teeth lose fluorescence, so it is appropriate to restore

some layers of these teeth with more fluorescent materials than would normally be

used.

The most important feature of the fluorescence phenomenon is the "inner

glow" that contributes to the vital appearance of the natural tooth, that is, the light

emission from inside.

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Aging results in a decrease in the fluorescence of dentin because of protein

loss, tissue mineralization, and pigmentation. Aged composites also lose

fluorescence but very slightly. Various composites have different degrees of

fluorescence, depending on the manufacturer's philosophy or the material's

capabilities. We need to choose a composite with a toothlike fluorescence. The

lighter the Chroma, the more fluorescent the material becomes.51

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DENTINOENAMEL JUNCTION:

The dentinoenamel junction is a thin layer constituted of partially mineralized

collagen protein fiber bundles that penetrate the enamel and dentin, the two tissues

where it is located. The function of the dentinoenamel junction is to increase

fluorescence and the natural appearance, increase Value, and provide elasticity

between layers. Mechanically speaking, it acts as a shock absorber against stress

forces and prevents the propagation of fractures into the enamel. It is a highly

fluorescent layer, has a very high Value (white), and is highly translucent at the same

time. Besides being a strong bond between two different tissues, this layer acts as a

light transmitter and scatterer toward the dentin, providing an appearance of depth

and vitality to the tooth.

It is important to reproduce this layer in layering techniques. There are

composites that simulate the properties of the protein layer (eg, glass connecto

Enamel Plus HFO, Micerium, and DE Connector, Ultra dent) and must be stratified

between the dentin and enamel. However, many modern composites do not require

this layer because their fluorescence is already correct.

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Section from a natural tooth under direct light. The dentinoenamel junction is
evident as a clearly defined line. Where the light is highly diffused, the dentinoenamel
junction appears as a glint.

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Section from a natural tooth under transmitted light, which reveals the luminous effect of
the connecting line between enamel and dentin and the strong diffusion that occurs.

Section from a natural tooth section under black light, used to evidence
fluorescence. The dentinoenamel junction shines under black light but is hardly
distinguish able because of its thickness.

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The appearance of a jellyfish under UV light is a reminder that fluorescence is not

dependent on thickness or opacity but photochemistry. The most striking examples of
fluorescence occur when the absorbed radiation is in the ultraviolet region of the
spectrum, and thus invisible, and the emitted light is in the visible region, as happens
when teeth are viewed under black light.

Section of a composite tooth fabricated with a reproduction of the protein layer

between enamel and dentin

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Section of a composite tooth fabricated without a reproduction of the protein layer.

Same tooth sections under black light ,the protein layer provides extremely high
fluorescence

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The tooth with a protein layer appears more fluorescent.

The tooth without the protein layer has a deeper blue under black light.

Devitalized teeth loose a significant amount of their fluorescence due to several

factors, including dehydration , loss of internal dentinal volume and the breakdown of

proteins caused by chemical substances such as sodium hypochlorite.

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It is important to restore these teeth with an inside layer that serves a source of

luminous energy to recover value and fluorescence. An endodontically treated tooth

restored with non fluorescent or semi fluorescent materials has a non vital

appearance.

It is important to restore endodontically treated teeth not only with a highly

fluorescent layer but also with a fluorescent dentin ; if a post is needed , it should be

fluorescent a well.

The dentin surrounding the pulp is highly fluorescent, and its lose becomes a problem
that must be solved. When endodontically treated teeth restored with non-fluorescent
material are sectioned, they suffer a loss of fluorescence and therefore the total value of
the tooth decreases.

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The color dynamics and optical phenomena we have discussed also apply to
posterior teeth. The main differences between anterior and posterior teeth result from
the differing proportions in enamel and dentin thickness.

Posterior teeth display the same optical phenomena as anterior teeth,

despite their different Thickness.51

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