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Aims: To evaluate the additional operating expenses caused by shade matching by dental technicians in the dental practice and by color changes of fixed partial dentures., Methods: A questionnaire was handed out to visitors of the 2010 ADT dental technician congress in Germany. Thirty-one completed questionnaires were evaluated., Results: Mean costs caused by shade matching and shade correction per month were 1269$ (SD = 1278$; n = 25) and per unit of FPD 9.32$ (SD = 8.89$)., Conclusions: An improvement of shade matching, shade communication and reproduction should be made in order to minimize the considerable economic damage for dental laboratories.

This article will help the dental laboratory with alloy selection by exploring how the relationship among color, ductility and strength applies to gold and how color can be quantified. Because higher quality materials translate into higher profits, upselling to the dentist and patient is also discussed.