Vita 3D Master Shade Guide

The Vita 3D Master shade guide, introduced in 1998, represented an important shift in the design of shade guides. Unlike virtually all previous systems, the 3D Master organized tabs by Value first, and then by Hue and lastly by Chroma. Previous to this guide, tabs had been organized in groups based on Hue.

The design of the 3D Master Shade Guide was specifically meant to improve the process of shade taking - leading the professional to the right shade in a systematic, repeatable process. This is a marked contrast from previous shade guides which relied primarily in the professional placing any tab next to the tooth and choosing a shade that he felt most closely matched the tooth. In the 3D Master Shade Guide, the professional selects first an appropriate value, then a hue and lastly a chroma.

To achieve this process, the 3D Master organized the 29 tabs according to the following numbering/lettering system:

Each tab is given a number, letter, number - i.e. 2M1. The first number represents the value, the second number the hue and the third number the chroma.

First Number - Value

Group 0 = consists of 3 tabs in a bleached white color
Group 1 = consists of 2 tabs in a slightly darker value than group 0
Group 2 = consists of 7 tabs in a slightly darker value than group 1
Group 3 = consists of 7 tabs in a slightly darker value than group 2
Group 4 = consists of 7 tabs in a slighly darker value than group 3
Group 5 = consists of 3 tabs and is the darkest value

Letter - Hue
L = Yellowish, Left position
M = Medium, Middle position
R = Reddish, Right position

Last Number - Chroma
1 = Low Chroma
2 = Medium Chroma
3 = High Chroma


Portions of this post were adapted from the book:
Fundaments of Color - Shade Matching and Communication in Esthetic Dentistry published by Quintessence Publishing Co. Inc and written by Dr. Stephen J. Chu, Dr. Alessandro Devigus, Dr. Rade D. Paravina and Mr. Adam J. Mieleszko