Professional Dental Reference

Every shade,
perfectly matched.

Compare dental shades across all major systems. Built for technicians and clinicians who demand precision.

5 Tooth Systems
6 Gingiva Systems
4 Precision Tools
VITA Classical
B1
A1
A2
B2
A3
B3
C1
D2
C2
D3
A3.5
B4
C3
D4
A4
C4

Everything you need
in one place

5 Systems

Tooth Shade Converter

Compare across VITA Classical, 3D-Master, Chromascop, Bleach Guide & Portrait.

6 Systems

Gingiva Shade Converter

Ivoclar, VITA VM9, GC Gradia, Candulor, Dentsply Sirona & Shofu — matched side by side.

Zirconia

Post-Sintering Corrector

Stain correction protocols for fired zirconia. Dentin, incisal & cervical zone recipes with application order.

VITA

Guide Age Checker

Correct for shade guide drift. Old guides appear darker — use this reference chart to find the visual equivalent in a current guide.

Three steps to a perfect match

01

Select your system

Choose from 5 tooth systems or 6 gingiva systems. All major manufacturers covered.

02

Pick your shade

Select the shade from your physical guide. From B1 to A4 and everything between.

03

Get instant matches

See equivalents across all other systems with quality ratings — instantly.

Built on published science

Shade data is based on manufacturer specifications and peer-reviewed colorimetric research. All values are derived from clinical studies under standardized D65 lighting conditions.

International Color Standard
All comparisons use the internationally recognized standard for perceptible color difference.
Manufacturer Specs
Cross-referenced with official VITA, Ivoclar, GC, and other manufacturer publications.
Clinical Research
Guide drift data sourced from peer-reviewed studies on shade guide aging under clinical conditions.
Tooth Shade Converter

Shade Comparison

Select a system and shade — get instant equivalents across all major systems.

Comparison Results

Reference only — always verify with your physical guide before clinical use
VITA Classical
A2

Select a system and shade to begin

Equivalents across all 5 systems will appear here

Select above to get started
Gingiva Shade Converter

Gingiva Comparison

Select a gingival system and shade — get equivalents across all 6 major systems.

Level:
1 Very Light
2
3
4
5 Dark

Gingiva Shade Equivalents

Reference only — always verify with your physical guide before clinical use
Ivoclar
G1

Select a system and shade to begin

Equivalents across all 6 gingiva systems will appear here

Select above to get started
Post-Sintering Stain Corrector

Stain Correction
Protocol

Select the fired shade, target shade, and stain system — get a full zone-by-zone correction protocol.

Zirconia 7 Stain Systems Dentin · Incisal · Cervical

Both shades must be VITA Classical. Results appear automatically when all three fields are selected.

Possible

Stain Recipe

Tooth Zone Map
Click a zone

click a zone

INCISAL DENTIN CERVICAL
Incisal
Dentin
Cervical
Dentin (Body)
Incisal (Inner slopes only)
Cervical (Gingival margin)

Application Protocol

Firing temp:
Important Warnings

    Select All Three Fields

    VITA Guide Checker

    Old Guide vs New Guide — Reference Chart

    Shade guides change over time with use and sterilization. This table shows the visual equivalent in a current guide for each shade in an older guide.

    Important Notice — Please Read Before Use

    This is an unofficial reference table built from published documentation and documented observations by dental technicians. Every guide ages differently depending on use, sterilization frequency, and storage conditions. Do not base your final clinical decision on this table alone — always verify with your actual physical guides. ShadeMap bears no responsibility for clinical outcomes based on this reference.

    VITA Classical — Old Guide vs. New Guide

    Visual equivalents between an aged guide and a current production guide.

    Download Reference
    Very close — high match between generations
    Close — noticeable but acceptable difference
    Slightly close — minor hue or value shift
    Caution — full hue shift, verify under clinic lighting
    Old Guide New Guide Match Level Notes
    A1 A1 Very Close Very high match in value and chroma — stable across generations
    A2 B2 ⚠ Caution Old guide more reddish — new guide leans yellow. B2 gives the closest visual value
    A3 A2 Close Old A3 was lighter — A2 in the new guide is the visual equivalent
    A3.5 A3 Very Close Chroma density of old A3.5 matches new A3 exactly in current production
    A4 A4 Very Close A4 group is the closest match with a slight shift toward darker brown
    B1 B1 Very Close Near-perfect match — highest brightness shade in both systems
    B2 B2 Slightly Close New guide slightly more yellow — result of pigment reformulation
    B3 B2 Close Old B3 had lower chroma — new B2 is the visual equivalent
    B4 B4 Slightly Close Similar chroma with a slight hue difference
    C1 C1 Very Close Very good match in neutral gray value
    C2 C1 Close Old C2 was visually lighter — new C1 is the closest brightness equivalent
    C3 C3 Slightly Close Current production is slightly darker
    C4 C4 Slightly Close New guide has higher chroma density — represents the darkest end of the gray spectrum
    D2 D2 Very Close Stable reddish-gray pigment across both generations
    D3 D2 Close Old D3 had lower chroma — new D2 compensates for the difference in density
    D4 D4 Slightly Close Old guide more gray — new guide leans slightly yellow

    Guide Care & Replacement

    Best practices to maintain accuracy and know when to replace.

    Correct Cleaning Method
    Wipe the guide immediately after each use with a sterile swab. Use the three-step method: remove visible debris, apply disinfectant for the recommended contact time, then wipe clean again. Autoclave is safe for ceramic tabs only — always check the manufacturer's instructions.
    What to Avoid
    Never use disinfectants containing phenol or its derivatives — they damage plastic components. Avoid methyl ethyl ketone, monomers, and alcohol above 40% unless the guide is rated for it. Never soak the guide — this loosens the adhesive holding the tabs.
    Working With an Older Guide
    After three years of daily clinical use, around 30% of tabs show visible color drift to the naked eye. Keep one unused reference guide and compare it periodically to your working guide. If you notice a clear difference, it is time to replace the working guide.
    Replacement Schedule
    Replace every 2–3 years with daily use and regular sterilization. Replace every 3–5 years with moderate use and infrequent sterilization. Replace immediately if you see visible color change, scratched or worn tab surfaces, cracking, or tabs separating from the base.
    SmilePalette — Built for dental technicians worldwide
    About ShadeMatch

    Built for the people
    who build smiles.

    A professional reference tool designed to help dental technicians and clinicians work faster and more accurately with shade matching.

    5
    Tooth Systems
    6
    Gingiva Systems
    7
    Stain Systems
    16
    VITA Shades

    How it started

    The Problem

    Shade guide conversions were scattered across manufacturer PDFs, impossible to find in one place during a clinical workflow.

    The Build

    We built the tool we needed — a single reference that covers all major systems with scientifically accurate color calculations.

    The Mission

    Provide accurate, reliable shade data for dental professionals — without the friction of PDFs or guessing conversions.

    What we cover

    Tooth Shade Systems
    VITA Classical, 3D-Master, Chromascop, Bleach Guide & Portrait — compared side by side.
    Gingiva Shade Systems
    Ivoclar, VITA VM9, GC Gradia, Candulor, Dentsply Sirona & Shofu — matched with CIEDE2000 algorithm.
    Post-Sintering Corrector
    Stain correction protocols for 7 systems. Dentin, incisal & cervical zone recipes with application order.
    VITA Guide Age Checker
    Correct for shade guide drift. Old guides appear darker — use this reference chart to find the visual equivalent in a current guide.

    Where the data comes from

    All shade data is based on published manufacturer specifications and peer-reviewed colorimetric research. Values are derived from clinical studies measuring shade guide samples under standardized D65 lighting conditions.

    VITA Zahnfabrik
    Ivoclar Vivadent
    GC Corporation
    Shofu Dental
    Dentsply Sirona
    Candulor AG
    Katana Kuraray
    MiYO System
    Upcera Dental
    Paravina et al. 2015
    Clinical Disclaimer — Please Read

    ShadeMatch is a reference tool only. Do not base any clinical decision solely on these results. All outputs must be verified against your physical shade guides under standardized D65 lighting before final delivery. Shade data is approximate — individual guide batches, lighting conditions, and patient factors all affect the final result. ShadeMatch bears no responsibility for any clinical outcomes arising from use of this tool.

    Community Reviews

    What the community says

    ShadeMatch is built around real clinical workflows. Your feedback helps us improve and serve dental professionals better.

    Rated by dental professionals worldwide

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    Used ShadeMatch in your workflow? Your feedback helps us improve and serve dental professionals better.

    Contact Us

    Get in touch

    Found an error in the data? Have a suggestion? Want to see a new shade system added? We would love to hear from you.

    Response time
    We typically respond within a few days.
    Data corrections
    Include the shade name and system so we can verify and update it quickly.
    Suggest a system
    Missing a shade system you use? Let us know and we'll consider adding it.
    Clinical data report
    If you have clinical measurements that differ from our data, share them — we review all submissions carefully.