Color vision alterations in dental students: a potential limiting factor in prosthodontic education

Background Tooth color selection is a complex process that relies on the interaction between dental tissues and visual perception. Accurate shade matching is essential for aesthetic success in restorative dentistry; however, color vision deficiencies may compromise this process in clinical practice. Objective To evaluate the prevalence of color vision alterations among dental students and to assess their potential influence on prosthetic shade selection. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted involving 80 fourth- and fifth-year dental students at the University of Barcelona. Color vision was assessed using the Ishihara test. Shade-matching ability was evaluated by matching two Chromascop shade guides and by selecting the shade of a dental crown. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. Results Of the participants, 33.75% were male and 66.25% female. Color vision deficiency was detected in 2.5% of the sample. A significant association was observed between the presence of ophthalmological alterations and the number of errors in shade-matching tasks. Students with less clinical experience made fewer errors. No significant differences were found between gender and shade-matching performance. Conclusions Although the prevalence of color vision deficiency was low, visual alterations were associated with increased errors in shade selection. These findings highlight the importance of awareness, early detection, and educational support strategies to improve shade-matching accuracy during dental training.