Australian Dental Council (ADC) Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Shade selection for crowns should ideally be performed before starting the tooth preparation. This timing is crucial because it allows for the selection of a shade that will be most suitable for the tooth and the patient’s overall smile aesthetic. Selecting the shade at this stage gives the dentist the opportunity to evaluate the natural color of the teeth in their unprepared state, ensuring that the final restoration matches not only the intended shade but also accommodates the existing tooth structure and surrounding teeth.

Conducting shade selection before tooth preparation also minimizes the risk of altering the perception of color that can occur after the tooth has been reduced. Freshly prepared teeth often appear lighter than they will after the final restoration, and starting the shade selection process too late could lead to a mismatch between the crown and the remaining dentition. Therefore, performing this task in advance allows for a more accurate and aesthetically pleasing outcome in dental restorations.