OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness on the application of mechanical toothguide training box (TTB) to chromatics teaching of prosthodontics.

METHODS12 preclinical undergraduate students were chosen to participate in the VITA 3D-Master shade-matching system simulant toothguide training process using Linearguide Training Box program of TTB. Toothguide Trainer program considered as a test was performed on the trained undergraduate students group, the postgraduate students group as well as the clinical prosthodontists group with under 5-year clinical experience. The test scores, elapsed time and the coincidence of chromatics single factor matching were recorded each time, the shade-matching efficiency was calculated. The data was analyzed with SPSS 13.0 software.

RESULTSThe shade-matching efficiency of undergraduate students trained by TTB (64.03 +/- 18.82) was significantly higher than before (P < 0.05), higher than the postgraduate students group and the clinical prosthodontists group (P < 0.05). The coincidence of chromatics single factor matching of trained undergraduate students were 64.64% (lightness), 88.57% (chroma), 87.70% (hue).

CONCLUSIONTTB is a effective tool for shade-mathing practice in chromatics teaching of prosthodontics. The trained undergraduate students are less sensitive in lightness-matching.