Previous color characterization techniques have generally involved applying gingival stains to the gingival surfaces in the flask after boil-out^5-10. In the present technique, color characterization may be done by the dentist or technician after the denture has been processed. Custom staining can be done quickly and requires the following armamentarium:

• Denture tinting chart
• Soft tissue shade guide
• a #6 camel hair brush
• Acrylic resin stains or shade modifiers in a variety of colors including red, brown and black*
• Dappen dishes
• Pressure pot or a light curing unit for curing the stains.

Newer, autopolymerizing** and light-cured shade modifiers*** are cadmium-free and are preferred. When the the denture has been processed in the appropriate shade of denture base material, it is contoured and smoothed with an acrylic bur but not polished. Custom tinting is done at this time. An example of a typical procedure for a Caucasian is as follows:

1. Place monomer and colored powders in different dappen dishes.
2. Brush monomer on surfaces to be tinted.
3. Wet brush and pick up increments of pale pink powder (or gingival toner) and apply to the blanched areas over root prominences.
4. Clean the brush and place red stain on the alvoelar mucosa and frenum attachments.
5. The unattached and attached gingiva and the papillae remain as unstained denture base material.
6. Keep stains moist with the monomer during this time to prevent crystallization.
7. Cure the acrylic resin stains in the pressure pot or light-curing unit according to the manufacturers instructions. (Figure 6):

Figure 6: Autopolymerizing surface stainsapplied to the finished denture with a brush and cured in a pressure pot. Note the SSN typed on the Shrink Art material and trimmed for shrinking.

*Kayon Denture Stains, Kay See Dental Mfg. Co., Kansas City, MO
**Palamed Acrylic Shade Modifiers, Heraeus Kulzer, Irvine, CA
***Dentacolor cre·active Photocuring Colorfluids, Heraeus Kulzer, Irvine, CA