Because in tooth restoration dentists have faced with the problem of shade selection and its matching with natural tooth and also because of the important role of correct shade selection in successful treatment, the purpose of this study is to investigate the necessity for presenting the science of determining the tooth shade course in educational curriculum in dentistry faculties based on the evaluation of the amount of knowledge and performance of general dentists. Data in this study are descriptive, analytical and they were collected through random questionnaires distribution among 84 dentists (56 male, 28 female) in private clinics of Ahvaz. The questionnaire consisted of two parts of demographic information and basic principles of shade selection. Data were analyzed by SPSS21software.In this study 52 dentists (61.9%) offered dental restorative-esthetic services and prosthesis to their clients. Only 40.6% of them consulted others about the selection of shade. 57% of dentists used the natural light of day for the choice of shade. 15% of dentists preferred to select shade in an environment with gray walls, cabinets and levels and only 10% of them used devices such as the spectrophotometer and colorimeter. 24 dentists said that about 30% of their patients are not satisfied with the shade chosen for the restoration of their teeth. According to the study findings as well as dentists’ tendency to participate in retraining courses in this area, it is recommended that the science of determining the tooth shade course be included in the educational curriculum of general dentistry.
