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Tooth color matching system

  • US 6,007,332 A
  • Filed: 09/26/1996
  • Issued: 12/28/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of selecting a color standard color characteristic for a tooth prosthesis of a patient that matches closely the color characteristic of a selected original tooth, the method comprising the steps of:

  • selecting a plurality of color standards, each having a predetermined color characteristic that is determined visually to approximate the corresponding color characteristic of the original tooth;

    photographing the original tooth and the plurality of color standards selected in said step of selecting;

    tooth color measuring the predetermined color parameter of the original tooth from a photograph produced in said step of photographing to produce a tooth color parameter value;

    standards color measuring the predetermined color parameter of each of at least two of the color standards from a photograph produced in said step of photographing to produce respective standards color parameter values; and

    calculating respective values corresponding to the differences between the tooth color parameter value and the respective standards color parameter values, whereby the color standard associated with the smaller difference represents the closer color characteristic match to the color characteristic of the original tooth.

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