This study was done to evaluate the reliability of the digital color analysis system (ShadeScan, CYNOVAD, Montreal, Canada) for dentistry.

Sixteen tooth models were made by injecting the A2 shade chemical cured resin for temporary crown into the impression acquired from 16 adults. Surfaces of the model teeth were polished with resin polishing cloth. The window of the ShadeScan handpiece was placed on the labial surface of tooth and tooth images were captured, and each tooth shade was analyzed with the ShadeScan software. Captured images were selected in groups, and compared one another.

Two models were selected to evaluate repeatability of ShadeScan, and shade analysis was performed 10 times for each tooth.

And, to ascertain the color difference of same shade code analyzed by ShadeScan, CIE L^*a^*b^*values of shade guide of Gradia Direct (GC, Tokyo, Japan) were measured on the white and black background using the Spectrolino (GretagMacbeth, USA), and Shade map of each shade guide was captured using the ShadeScan.

There were no teeth that were analyzed as A2 shade and unique shade. And shade mapping analyses of the same tooth revealed similar shade and distribution except incisal third.

Color difference (ΔE^*) among the Shade map which analyzed as same shade by ShadeScan were above 3.

Within the limits of this study, digital color analysis instrument for dentistry has relatively high repeatability, but has controversial in accuracy.