ClearMatch®

No Proprietary Hardware Associated With System

Verify value and shade before restoration leaves the lab.
Dentist can validate shade prior to patient's appointment.

click here to see how to take a good ClearMatch pictureClearMatch® is a software system that uses patented technology to color correct, or normalize, images acquired with any digital camera. Based on normalization standards within the image, ClearMatch® analyzes and maps those images for value and shade. It automatically transmits that data along with any comments or descriptors from the dentist to the laboratory and vice versa via the Internet.

How Does ClearMatch® Work?

ClearMatch® is a software program that uses images captured with a digital camera. The digital pictures are then processed on your computer. ClearMatch® accomplishes shade matching by a process of normalization. This means comparing an unknown color (the color of the teeth) with known reference colors that are seen within the image. The software knows the reference colors and adjusts the image color to correct for lighting conditions within the room and camera color characteristics. ClearMatch® uses three color refereces to calibrate and determine the shade. The references are white, black and any shade tab. The shade tab does not need to match the patient's dentin shade, it is merely in the picture as a reference. To be assured you do not forget the color of shade tab used, you can utilize a Vita A2 in all of your images. ClearMatch® is calibrated to a proprietary Black and White reference and is supplied by Dental Learning Centers.

It's Unique

Knowing how busy and hectic dental practices and laboratories can be, ClearMatch® was designed to be very easy to use and offers the user twelve-industry standard shade guides from which to choose. These shade guides encompass materials for indirect and direct restorations, as well as demonstrating bleaching success to patients. Because of the open architecture in ClearMatch®, laboratories can add their own custom shades or incisal shades to the program. This is a feature no other system has. Since ClearMatch® is a software only product, there is no proprietary hardware associated with the system so there is no risk of hardware failing or becoming obsolete. Software upgrades are available at no additional charge

The Technique

Before isolating the tooth to be restored and beginning the restoration, the following shade matching technique is used:

1. The Black and White reference supplied by Dental Learning Centers, along with a shade tab of the shade system you prefer to use, is held in your hand.
2. Place shade tab with Black and White reference directly under the tooth to be matched. Try to orient references on the same plane as the tooth to be matched.
3. Use your digital camera to take the pictures. Take at least three pictures as one picture will usually be better than the other two.
4. Load the pictures into the software.
5. Follow the software instructions to Set White, Set Black, and Set Shade References.
6. Display or print your original picture along with the shade map.

Dentistry and photography by Dr. Ross Nash, Charlotte, North Carolina (photos unretouched)

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