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The Process of Finding the Perfect Color for Your Dental Crown

November 29, 2021

Filed under: Uncategorized — alldentalcenter @ 5:03 pm
Dentist using shade guide as part of dental crown design process

Dentists are medical professionals, but their occupation also requires an artistic eye. It takes sharp attention to detail to design and create restorations that work well with a patient’s facial characteristics. One of the primary elements they must think about is color. In this blog post, we will talk about some factors that help your dentist determine which shade of porcelain is perfect for a dental crown.

Teeth’s Natural Color

It is normal for people to oversimplify natural tooth colors. Most believe that teeth are simply white, yellow, or perhaps even brown. However, there is more to the story. Tooth enamel is naturally a bluish shade of white, not bright white. Additionally, it is translucent, so the yellow color of the dentin (the second layer of teeth) beneath it is often visible.

Another common assumption is that all of a person’s teeth are the same color. For most individuals, however, some of their teeth may be lighter or darker than others. For example, the canine teeth usually have a thicker layer of dentin, which can make them yellower than the teeth around them.

Both the natural color of a patient’s teeth, as well as the location of the tooth that will receive a crown, have a bearing on the shade of the restoration.

Age

When it comes to tooth color, whiter is not always better. While many young people would prefer all of their teeth to be bright white, many seniors prefer a subtler shade. This is often because tooth enamel may become thinner with age, which means that older individuals naturally have slightly yellower teeth.

If you have any color preferences for your teeth, be sure to let your dentist know. They might recommend that you get your teeth whitened before you receive your crown. Doing so will allow them to match your crown to the new color of your teeth rather than their pre-whitened shade.

Selecting the Perfect Shade for Your Crown

When your dentist is preparing to design and place your crown, they will hold a shade guide next to your teeth. By comparing their natural color with the shade guide, they will be able to narrow down the colors that may work well for your crown. To make sure their final shade selection is accurate, they may also:

  • Ask you or their staff members for opinions.
  • Ask you to remove bright lipstick and cover bright clothing with a neutral bib.
  • Make sure the lighting is good. Shade selection should take place either in natural light or under artificial lights that mimic natural light.

A porcelain dental crown can flawlessly blend in with your natural teeth. Your dentist will make every effort to select the perfect shade for your restoration.

Meet the Practice

The team of dentists at All Dental in Watertown is proud to provide comprehensive oral health services, including beautiful and functional porcelain crowns. If you believe you need a crown, or you would like to replace an old metal crown with something that is more aesthetically pleasing, we would be happy to speak with you. Contact our office at 617-207-0947.

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