CLINICAL RESEARCH
tographic standard for providing pre- dictable and repeatable levels of light for shade estimation. Indirect reflective illumination (Lumiquest, Pocket Bounc- ers,) on the other hand, aids in revealing fine surface texture details.
estimation of incisal enamel distribu- tion. Opalescence may also be visually assessed and gauged via this type of photography. To obtain such an image intraorally, a fiber optic transilluminator is utilized (Micro-Lux, AdDent).
Reflective cross-polarized illumination
Discussion
This photography technique significant- ly mitigates unwanted specular reflec- tions which obscure the fine details of dental structures 23,60 , while providing a high contrast/hypersaturated dental im- age to be objectively analyzed via a cali- brated RAW workflow utilizing a generic software program (Adobe Photoshop) in the CIE L*a*b color space. To obtain such a photographic image intraorally, a cross-polarization filter is utilized (po- lar_eyes, Emulation).
The restorative task is elaborated along four levels of integration: biological, functional, mechanical, and optical. To meet contemporary challenges, the dental team must enhance its capacity in all four levels equally. From an optical standpoint in ambi- ent light, enamel can be considered isotropic, with the visual gradient being expressed in the vertical direction (cer- vical/incisal) due to thickness variation, whereas dentin can be considered ani- sotropic, with the visual gradient being expressed: a) in a radial direction due to the dentin tubule attributes of diam- eter and density (qualitiative), and b) in a horizontal zonal direction (cervical/mid- dle/incisal) due to thickness variation and differing RRI indexes (quantitative). Hue and chroma are predominately determined by the properties of dentin, dynamically changing over time as sec- ondary deposition occurs. In some in- stances, as in the cases of severe incisal wear, dentin can be breached to such an extent that external chromophores become readily absorbed, resulting in infiltration staining (Fig 10). While the opacity of dentin provides and establishes a baseline for value, the luminosity is predominately regulated by the properties of enamel. The surface texture influences the primary interac-
UV Illumination
Ultraviolet Illumination is utilized in or- der to induce fluorescence and aid in the selection of the restorative material (etchable ceramics and resins) with a similar fluorescence intensity, 61-63 pro- viding the restoration with optimal inte- gration primarily in the event of exposure to a UV dominant lighting environment, such as a dancehall or a nightclub. To obtain such an image intraorally, a cus- tom modified xenon flash tube is utilized (fluor_eyes, Emulation).
Transillumination
Transillumination reveals histo-anatomic relative opacity levels (transparent den- tin vs opaque) and visual quantitative
348 THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ESTHETIC DENTISTRY VOLUME 9 • NUMBER 3 • AUTUMN 2014
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