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Kahng on color
Kahng On Color
Chameleon qualities
How to mimic natural tissue color in the connective gingival
Luke S. Kahng, CDT
Base Light and Intensive Cream. The individual steps can be
GM 23, 24, 34, 35 and 36—tissue-colored, light-curable
Post-operatively, the patient’s retracted view provides us
divided between different firings, according to the standard
micro-composites—Gradia Gum Shades that allow the
a good view of the gum area (Fig. K).
layering techniques.
technologist to naturalize the existing restoration to give it
the color, texture, translucency, and veining of natural gum
Conclusion
Case Study
tissue. The line of gum shades is offered in three composite
The technician will find this product to be especially nice
As mentioned above, from the different skin types people
viscosities: a liquid, a gel and a paste. These alternatives
for use with restorations such as the implant crown we
exhibit, we can safely assume their tissue color also will
afford the user almost unlimited combination of colors and
demonstrated, or for denture work as well. There is no mix-
We sometimes struggle to match a patient’s
inflammation due to plaque. However, we must
Tissue color also affects the size of the teeth
be unique. When the author is assigned a restoration such
textures and even allow the anatomy of the restoration to be
ing involved which makes it easy to use. Maximum results
tissue color. The tough connective gingiva, which
also consider racial pigmentation, because this
and the tint of our combined porcelain colors.
as the one we see in Fig. A, he will match tissue color by
enhanced in terms of root structure, tissue connectors and
can be achieved with very little effort necessary. And, as
lines the base of the teeth, is part of the lining
can make the tissue appear darker. The most
When we recreate tissue, we have to keep in
overlaying the solid porcelain color with a pink tone.
rugae. Gum fibers are even available to imitate the natural
we can see from the photos, the end result is pleasing to
of the mouth. Not only does it surround the
significant issue then is color homogeny. Pock-
mind that a patient’s smile is in large part influ-
blood vessels in the oral cavity.
the eye. lab
teeth, it also produces a seal. Unlike the soft
ets of different colors, lighter or darker, could
enced by that color.
tissue linings of the lips and cheeks, most of
indicate a concern.
In his newly updated Chairside Shade Guide™ System
(LSK121 Oral Prosthetics), there are nine total tissue colors
In Fig. E we are given a view of the implant titanium
In the past, we could only mimic tissue
all created, categorized and photographed. With the three
abutment in the mouth, post-operatively. The author decided
this gingiva is tightly bound to the underlying
In texture, healthy gingiva is firm, does not
color by adding or mixing together modified
possible soft tissue colors we see here, he is attempting to
to use GC Initial™ 23, 24 and MC – C-LF for this particular
bone which aids in resistance of the chafing of
move, and often exhibits stippling, or a speckled
colors with pink porcelain. But the GC Initial™
match this patient’s shade, which appears to be a light pink
restoration in order to match the patient’s gum color (Fig.
food as it’s chewed.
appearance. Unhealthy gingiva, on the other
Zr Gum Shade Set System (GC America) now
with slightly darker tones at the gingival. Ultimately, that
F). Fig. G demonstrates the process of applying each shad-
hand, will often present as puffy and spongy.
includes the Zr and MC gum shades with six
dark color will be covered when the restoration is completed.
ing layer to the restoration in order to accomplish the color
if healthy, it is often called “coral pink.” Colors
This tissue color is not always definitive, but
Yet if the tissue color does not blend prop-
color choices. Included are Frame Modified
The temporary implant crown on tooth No. 8, dem-
goal he has set out to complete. Over the top of this he then
such as red, white or even blue may indicate
erly, it ruins the effect of the final restoration.
Gum, Base Dark, Intensive Red, Intensive Violet,
onstrated in Fig. B is long, as the reader can clearly see,
Making a Match
Fig. A The patient’s gum tissue color was
checked against the Chairside Shade Guide.
Fig. B Six more colors were demonstrated.
There are five possible powder colors for the gum area,
at the gingival area (Fig. C) which is the reason for the pencil
with shade tabs and opaque (Fig. I) available for the tech-
line the author drew—in order to mimic what is adjacent.
nician, opening up multiple possibilities when it comes to
GC Initial™ created five different pink tissue color pos-
creating a beautiful and life-like restoration. On a mirror, the
sibilities (Fig. D). Shown here for the reader are numbers
shade tabs are given a more detailed appearance (Fig. J).
Fig. J The mirrored image of the
Fig. K Post-op view, retracted.
Fig. C The technician drew a line on the patient’s
restoration to give himself an idea about how to re-create
the gingival area so that it matches with the adjacent tooth.
shade tabs provides detail.
Fig. D Five different shade tabs in various pink hues
were available through the GC Initial Gum Gradia system.
Fig. E Post-operatively, the patient was fitted with a
Fig. F The colors the technician used for
Fig. G Each layer of color was applied individually
to the restoration in order to mimic gum color.
Fig. H A C-LF application was layered
over the top of the MC 23 and 24.
Fig. I Five possible colors, corresponding shade tabs
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dentallabproducts November 2010
titanium implant abutment, with gingival recession.
applied the GC C-LF (clear fluorescent) (Fig. H).
compared to tooth No. 9. The two will need to be matched
About the Author
Luke S. Kahng, CDT, is the owner of LSK121 Oral
Prosthetics, a dental laboratory in Naperville, Ill. He
has published more than 50 articles in major dental publications. He is the author of three recently
published books, including Anatomy from Nature,
with 50 illustrated pages of full-contour wax-ups,
stone models and porcelain teeth, all re-created
using natural teeth as a guide; the Esthetic Guide
Book features 31 patient cases from a single anterior tooth to a full-mouth reconstruction and Smile
Selection + CS³ Clinical Cases, a complete supplement to the Chair Side Shade Selection Guide
Standard Kit. He invented the Chair Side Shade
Selection Guide and the Simple Enamel and Prep
Color Guide, featuring over 150 zirconia fabricated
restorations based on patient enamel and translucency research, with patent pending, in 2009.
the gum color were MC 23, 24 and C-LF.
and gum opaque were arranged for photographing.
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November 2010 dentallabproducts
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