• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.1136-1142
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• 2010

In this study, an efficient removal algorithm for specular reflections in a tooth color image is proposed to minimize the artefact interrupting color image segmentation. The pixel values of RGB color channels are initially reversed to emphasize the features in reflective regions, and then those regions are automatically detected by utilizing perceptron artificial neural network model and those prominent intensities are corrected by applying a smoothing spatial filter. After correcting specular reflection regions, multiple seeds in the tooth candidates are selected to find the regional minima and MCWA(Marker-Controlled Watershed Algorithm) is applied to delineate the individual tooth region in a CCD tooth color image. Therefore, the accuracy in segmentation for separating tooth regions can be drastically improved with removing specular reflections due to the illumination effect.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.192-203
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• 2023

Purpose: This study is to investigate the distribution of natural tooth shades in the Korean elderly population to quantify the correlation and changes of tooth color with age and gender. In addition, the possible effects of habits on tooth color were assessed. Materials and Methods: The tooth color of one of the maxillary central incisors of 200 Korean individuals aged 50 to 89 years, males and female, was measured using the portable intraoral spectrophotometer (VITA Easyshade V). CIELab and CIELCh color coordinates were recorded. We conducted the survey about the tobacco smoking, chronic disease, medication, eating habits, oral health behaviors and satisfaction with tooth color. Experimental data were statistically analyzed by using the t-test (P<0.05), two-way analysis of variance and Pearson's correlation test. Result: The most frequent color in the Korean elderly population was 3M3 & A3.5 shade. L^* and h^* values decreased, whereas C^*, a^* and b^* values increased progressively with age. There was a significant interaction between age and color coordinates for b^* values (r=0.245, P<0.05). Males generally have significantly higher C^*, a^*, b^* values and lower L^*, h^* value compared to females. Individuals who consumed alcohol had a higher L^* value (P<0.05). Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study, the central incisors were getting darker, more reddish, and yellowish with age. Information on the chromatic range of natural teeth by age and gender could help to select colors for esthetic dental restorations.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.210-216
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• 2010

In this study, we propose a novel method to segment an individual tooth region in a true color image. The difference of the intensity in RGB is initially extracted and subsequent morphological reconstruction is applied to minimize the spurious segmentation regions. Multiple seeds in the tooth regions are chosen by searching regional minima and a Sobel-mask edge operations is performed to apply MCWA(Marker-Controlled Watershed Algorithm). As the results of applying MCWA transform for our proposed tooth segmentation algorithm, the individual tooth region can be resolved in a CCD tooth color image.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.167-183
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• 1996

Human teeth vary widely in color. Practitioner and patients are concerned with preventing and correcting discolored or dark teeth to achieve and maintain stain-free, white teeth. Tooth brushing cannot alter tooth color but it can remove adhering films and stains. The esthetics of natural dentition can be improved by bleaching and this process can be applied to intrinsically and extrinsically stained teeth. The need for a brighter, more attractive smile has made rapid growth in the market for tooth whiteners. There is no doubt these products work as whiteners, at least on mild to moderate stains, but the safety of these products are unclear. In this experiment, the effect of tooth whitener application on the color and microhardness of extracted human enamel was measured. RMS, RMT and NWT were used as tooth whiteners, and tooth paste(ETQ) and hydrogen peroxide solution(HPO) were used as controls. 35 caries-free extracted human molars were embedded and polished with the exposed enamel diameter of 4 mm. The tooth whiteners and control agents were applied according to the manufacturers' instructions or clinically simulated procedures for eight weeks, and measurements were repeated every two weeks. Value(L＊) difference was measured using Differential Colorimeter(Model TC-6FX, Denshoku Co., Japan), and microhardness was measured using microhardness tester(Mitsuzawa Seiki Co., Japan). The results were as follows; 1. After application of agents for eight weeks, the Vickers hardness increased significantly in the ETQ, RMS and RMT application group(p〈0.01), and that decreased significantly in NWT application group(p〈0.01), but in HPO application group there was no significant change. The change in microhardness was greatest in NWT application group(p〈0.01). 2. After application of tooth whiteners and controls for eight weeks, the value change of toothpaste application group was significantly lower than those of other agents groups(p〈0.01), and there was no significant difference in value(L＊) change among tooth whitener groups(p〉0.01). 3. The application of tooth paste and paste type tooth whitener made gradual value change, but hydrogen peroxide gel type tooth whitener and hydrogen peroxide solution made rapid value change during initial application period.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.180-187
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• 2001

The structure of current guides is largely illogical and without any rational use of color ordering. The shade guides are generally made of plastic (rather than the actual composite material) and do not accurately depict the true shade. translucency. or opacity of the composite resin after polymerization. To solve this problem, information based on evaluations of natural teeth and material that use the same method and experimental conditions is necessary. The present investigation measured the color of natural maxillary anterior teeth in vivo and compared the results with those of composite resins. 269 Korean subjects were selected for this study. Intact central incisor. lateral incisor. and canine were selected. The clinical crowns were free of caries or restorations. The middle site of the coronal portion on the labial surface of the tooth was measured by Chroma Meter. The five light activated. resin-based materials (Amelogen, Denfil, Elitefil, Spectrum, Z100) were used in this study. Resin composite was condensed into plastic mold with a diameter of 8mm and a thickness of 4mm. pressed between glass plates to flatten the surfaces. and polymerized using a Visilux II visible light activation unit. The surfaces were polished sequentially on wet sandpaper. Color measurements of each specimen were accomplished by Chroma Meter. A computer program that compares each tooth color with each composite resin color was written and the minimum CIELAB color difference ($\Delta$E$^*$) between tooth and each material was calculated. Under the conditions of this study: 1. Teeth tend to become darker with advancing age. 2. Canines were darker. more yellow. and less green than incisors. 3. The teeth from the women were lighter. more green. and less yellow than the male teeth. 4. In general. composite resins were lighter. more green. and less yellow than teeth. Deficiencies were noted in Hues in YR range. 5. Mean color differences between the five composite resin products and teeth were detectable to the naked eye($\Delta$E$^*$>1.0). 6. In comparing the mean $\Delta$E$^*$ values of materials. Spectrum showed the least followed by Z100, Elitefil, Amelogen, Denfil in increasing order.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.243-251
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• 2016

This study was undertaken to achieve a high bleaching efficacy with plasma, through longer application and reparative bleaching processes, by different shade evaluation methods. Extracted human teeth were divided into 6 groups (n=10). All teeth were treated in pairs. Low concentration of 15% carbamide peroxide (CP) was applied, with and without plasma, for 10, 20, and 30-min tooth bleaching, respectively. The bleaching procedure was repeated once daily for four days. The teeth were maintained in a moist environment provided by artificial saliva. The Vitapan Classical shade guide and Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIELAB) color system were collectively used to measure the bleaching efficacy. Color evaluation was statistically analyzed using Student t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) complemented by Tukey's test. Combining the plasma with 15% CP showed significantly greater color changes compared to bleaching without plasma (p<0.05). A high bleaching efficacy with plasma is proportional to the repetitive application and the treatment time. A 30-min application with plasma provided the best bleaching. Repetitive bleaching showed lower probability of color relapse of the bleached tooth. The color change by shade guide correlated with the changes in CIELAB color system. A value of 1 color change units (CCU) conversion factor for overall color change (${\Delta}E$) values comparisons was 3.724 values. The two measuring methods provide a more accurate correspondence of color change. The repetitive and longer application for tooth bleaching, combined with plasma, has a strong bleaching effect and produces whiter teeth.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.271-279
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• 2011

In clinic, esthetic restoration of a defective natural tooth with composite resin is challenging procedure and needs complete understanding of the color of tooth itself and materials used. The optical characteristics of the composites are different because the chemical compositions and microstructures are not same. This review provided basic knowledge of the color and the color measurement devices, and analyze the color of the natural tooth. Further, the accuracy of the shade tab, color of the composite resins before and after curing, effect of the water, food and bleaching agent, and translucency, opalescence, and fluorescence effects were evaluated.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.223-235
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• 1998

The recognition of the esthetics as well as their function of the teeth in the dental field is growing. Evaluating the esthetics of a tooth concerns shape, texture, and color. And among these, color has been the most difficult element to make natural expression. Color is a very subjective element affected by many different factor like light source, object, observer. Numerous efforts to quantifying color has been made. Currently the use of colorimeter and spectrophotometercolor that the color measuring device has been suggested. In this study, the normal range of the tooth color in canines, lateral incisors and central incisors for Koreans was evaluated with a modified spectrophotometer for intraoral use. The color differences in terms of teeth positions, age and area within the tooth was evaluated and comparatively analyzed. Results were as follow ; 1. In all age groups, the central incisors are most bright and least yellowish opposit to the canines are most dark and yellowish. The central incisors and lateral incisors showed the similar color patterns. 2. In the comparison between gender, it showed that in the 10' s group male have more yellowish, the 20's female have lighter and more redness, the 30's indicated more redness in female and in the 40's the lightness is more in female. 3. With aging, there was no significant change in $L^*$ and $a^*$ coordinates but a shift was in $b^*$ to yellowish in the 30' sand 40's in central incisors. Lateral incisors and canines showed a lighter and more yellowish tooth color with an irregular change of color coordinate in $a^*$. 4. In all teeth the middle and cervical portion showed close correlation with over 0.7(0.05>p) but color ($a^*$, $b^*$) showed higher correlation than lightness($L^*$). 5. It has been shown that through the regression test the cervical color could be calculated by the middle color value.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.533-541
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of tooth bleaching agent contained 35% hydrogen peroxide on the color, microhardness and surface roughness of tooth-colored restorative materials. Methods : Four types of tooth-colored restorative materials, including a composite resin(Filtek Z350 ; Z350), a flowable composite resin(Filtek P60 : P60), a compomer(Dyract$^{(R)}$ AP ; DY), and a glass-ionomer cement(KetacTM Molar Easymix ; KM) were used in the study. The specimens($8mm{\times}5mm$) were made by using a customized acrylic mold. Each material was divided into two groups equally(n=40) : experimental group(35% HP) and control group(distilled water). 35% HP group was treated 30 mim/5 days for 15 days. Each 30 minute treatment session consisted of two 15 minute cycles of gel application with 20 second light exposure. The authors measured the color, microhardness, and roughness of the specimens before and after bleaching. The data were analyzed with ANOVA and T-test. Results : 35% HP group showed an apparent color change(${\Delta}E^*$) than control group. In particular, DY and KM showed a noticeable color change and statistically significant differences(p<0.05). 35% HP group showed a reduction in microhardness. Z350 and P60 does not have a statistically significant difference(p>0.05), DY and KM showed a statistically significant difference(p<0.05). Percentage microhardness loss(PML) of control group was 0.6 to 5.5% in the group, 35% HP group was 6.6 to 34.6%. Roughness was increased in 35% HP group after bleaching. Especially DY and KM were significantly increased(p<0.05). Conclusions : Bleaching agents may affect the surface of existing restorations; therefore, they should not be used indiscriminately when tooth-colored restorations are present.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.172-183
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• 2002

This study is going to compare the degree of color change which occurs in the following two cases of the factors which cause the color change of extra-staining, one is during glazing by the dental technician, the other is tooth brush abrasion which makes the biggest influence on color change. To compare the degree of color change before and after glazing, a sample was made with vintage incisal porcelain No. 59 OPAL(Shofu Inc, Japan), after that it was painted with three colors of porcelain stainers, then the degree of color was measured with a spectrophometer(Model Chromaview 300, Spectoron Tech Co. Korea) after it had been treated with firing only and glazing after firing 40,000-cycle and 80,000-cycle of tooth brush abrasion test were carried out in order to simulate the brushing effect of 4 years and 8 years by using the abrasion tester. The colors were measured before the test, and after the 40,000-cycle and 80.000-cycle operations and the surfaces were examined by SEM. The results of this study were as follows ; 1. The color change before and after glazing was not great enough to have a clinical significance but the orange color was changed more significantly statistically than the blue and light brown(p<0.05). 2. In the case of the color change of stained porcelain by tooth brushing, carrying out staining and glazing with two-times firings resulted in statically less color change than one firing only(p<0.05). 3. In the case of the difference in the stainer's color, the orange color which has higher chroma was statically more sensitive than the blue color(p<0.05) 4. In the case of the color change after the 80,000-cycle abrasion, all showed color change when there was one firing and the orange stainer showed some color change with clinical significance when firings were done two times.