Perceptibility and Acceptability of Color Differences of Single-Tooth Implants at the Restoration and Mucosa Levels: An Exploratory Clinical Study

Purpose The aim of the present study was to assess the perceptibility and acceptability threshold values for color differentiation at the restoration and mucosa levels. Materials and methods One restored single-tooth implant and the contralateral reference tooth were spectrophotometrically assessed in 20 patients. Perceptibility and acceptability were evaluated by dentists, dental technicians, and laypeople. Results Dental technicians had the highest sensitivity in the perception of tooth color differences (ΔE = 2.7), followed by dentists (ΔE = 3.3) and laypeople (ΔE = 4.4). Acceptability threshold values were generally higher than perceptibility threshold in all groups. Dental technicians exhibited the highest sensitivity in the perception of mucosa color differences (50% perceptibility at ΔE = 2.65), followed by dentists (ΔE > 3.7) and laypeople (ΔE > 6). Conclusion Color differences were tolerated with varying degrees among the three groups. Laypeople accepted higher color differences at the mucosa level.