Do you have a damaged tooth that is in need of additional support? It will likely be recommended that you have a dental crown placed. A crown is placed over the chewing surface of your damaged tooth to improve its appearance, protecting it from additional damage. Dental crowns today can be designed to perfectly match the color of the surrounding teeth for a natural appearance, but how is this possible? Continue reading to learn more about how this process works.
Picking the Right Color
Dental crowns can be made with a wide range of shades. At first, you may think whiter is better when it comes to dental restorations, but if a crown is made to be whiter than the surrounding teeth, it will stand out, looking unnatural. Dental crowns should blend in naturally with the rest of your teeth. Because discoloration is a natural occurrence over time, a bright, white crown may not look right against your other teeth. If you want to achieve a whiter smile, you may want to consider teeth whitening before getting your new crown. This way, it can be color-matched to blend in with the rest of your teeth.
How Does Color Variation Affect the Process?
No one’s teeth are perfect. You might discover that some of your teeth are different shades than other ones, and it is natural. However, it makes the color-matching process a little bit more difficult. It usually makes the most sense for your dentist to match the crown to the adjacent tooth. The front teeth tend to have a thinner layer of dentin, making them look whiter while the canine teeth have a thick layer of dentin, giving them a more yellowed appearance. In the end, the goal is to make your smile look as symmetrical as possible.
Using a Color-Matching Shade Guide
The most common tool that is utilized for matching the color of crowns is a shade guide. This is either a metal or plastic card with fake porcelain teeth of many different shades in order from darker to lighter. Your dentist will place them next to your teeth to find the most ideal shade for your new crown.
Customized Shading
If a single tooth is receiving a dental crown, and some other situations, custom shading can be completed. The intrinsic details of the adjacent teeth are analyzed, so the crown can be crafted to match the rest of your smile. This includes a combination of photos and an in-person consultation.
The health of your smile is always the number one priority of your dentist, but the appearance matters too. By closely color-matching your crown to the surrounding teeth, your dentist can ensure that patients leave the dental office feeling confident to show off their smiles!
About the Practice
At Harrisonburg Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Mario DeNicola and Dr. Monisha Khanna are working together to serve the Harrisonburg community. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need under one roof. To learn more about dental crowns or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (540) 432-6616.