POSTERIOR TOOTH SHADE GUIDE AND METHOD OF SELECTING CHARACTERIZATION FOR A TOOTH PROSTHESIS

A posterior tooth shade guide includes a plurality of posterior tooth samples each positionable upon a posterior tooth holder and bearing differing tooth characteristics. Several of the tooth samples have differing white stain characteristics, others have differing brown stain characteristics, and still others have differing incisal layer colors. Another set have differing percentages of the incisal that covers the body of the tooth prosthesis. A selector ring is provided to permit the selection of a specific brown stain color. Utilizing the posterior tooth shade guide, a dentist and the laboratory may utilize a method for selecting characterizations of a tooth prosthesis wherein the posterior tooth samples are utilized to select: brown stain characteristics, white stain characteristics, incisal layer color, and the percentage of the incisal that covers the body of the tooth prosthesis. This information, coupled with the specific stain color and the general tooth color selected from a shade guide and, optionally, a drawing prepared to show additional tooth characterization features, permits the dentist to relay to the laboratory an accurate representation of the tooth prosthesis to be manufactured.