Digital Analysis of Pre-Columbian Tooth Color: A Comparison of Shade Guides

To describe the tooth color of pre-Columbian teeth from two archaeological sites in Costa Rica and to determine the most suitable digital shade guide for postmortem tooth color assessment. A total of 165 anterior teeth were assessed using a VITA EasyShade® V digital spectrophotometer. Color measurements were taken from the middle third of the buccal surface. Two digital shade guides, Vita Classical and Vita 3D-Master, were used to determine tooth shade. Statistical analyses included absolute and relative frequency calculations, along with bivariate analysis. According to the Vita Classical shade guide, 42% of the samples were categorized as color C4, followed by A3.5 and A4. Canines showed the highest percentage for A3.5 (57%) while A4 was equally distributed between canines and lateral incisors (36%). The highest percentage for C4 was observed in central incisors (51%). Using the Vita 3D-Master guide, 47% of the samples were categorized as color 5M3 (central incisors), followed by 4M3 and 3M3 (canines). Postmortem dental color can be effectively assessed using digital methods. Between the two shade guides, the Vita Classical is recommended for its higher precision. Additionally, central incisors in archaeological collections tend to exhibit greater saturation compared to the lateral incisors and canines. The use of digital spectrophotometry may contribute to the standardization of tooth color assessment in anthropological research. Additionally, the incorporation of the Vita Classical shade guide enhances accuracy in both historical and clinical contexts.