The invention concerns a process for the approach to an oriented relative position between a camera or scanning device and a dental assistance element (10), in particular via an app on a smartphone, for recording the dental assistance element (10), such as a miniature shade guide (10). A mark (4) is attached to the dental assistance element (10), and/or at least one part of the dental assistance element (10) is used as a mark (4). A stencil (6) which is congruent with or mathematically similar to the mark (4) is displayed on a display device of the camera or scanning device. For the approach to the oriented relative position between the camera or scanning device and the dental assistance element, a modification of the degree of coverage of the stencil (6) with the mark (4) or the one part of the dental assistance element (10) is detected.