The Art of Color-Matching Dental Crowns

A dental crown doesn’t have to stand out like a sore thumb anymore. All-ceramic materials are the go-to solutions for crowns. This allows your restoration to match the exact color of your real teeth to blend in seamlessly. However, this isn’t a simple process. There’s an art to color-matching crowns, but your dentist will use the latest techniques to ensure flawless results, and here’s how.

Understanding Tooth Color

Teeth come in a wide range of colors, from yellow to white. Dental professionals refer to teeth as having a shade because it includes hue, chroma, and value, unlike just a color. Hue is the same thing as color and appears naturally in teeth as yellow, red, or gray. The saturation or intensity of the hue is the chroma. Your tooth’s value is how light or dark the shade is.

Preparing for Your Appointment

Your teeth can look different colors based on several things, like lighting, your clothing, and even your lipstick. You can make your dentist’s job easier and ensure your crown matches flawlessly by wearing neutral or gray. Avoid wearing any bright makeup. 

Finding the Perfect Color

There are multiple methods that can be used to color-match a restoration. A shade guide is the most traditional method, which is a plastic or metal card that holds fake porcelain teeth arranged in a certain order. Your dentist will compare the natural shade of your tooth with the card. First, they will look at the value and then find the chroma and hue. 

Your dentist will look at your teeth and the shade guide, but they will look away after a few seconds to reset the rods in their eyes.

While this method has been used for decades, it isn’t perfect. As an alternative method, dentists can also use a spectrometer. The small electronic device uses sensors to interpret the color of teeth. 

Your dentist will send the information along with your impression to the dental lab. They will carefully craft your restoration to your specifications. In a couple of weeks, you’ll return to your dentist to have your temporary crown removed and your permanent restoration bonded in place. 

Crowns are made of porcelain, which is stain-resistant, so your crown shouldn’t discolor with the correct care. Your restoration can last for a decade or longer to enjoy stunning results for years.

About Dr. Bita Kamali

Dr. Kamali earned her dental degree at the Baylor College of Dentistry and has regularly continued her training to provide the most up-to-date services, like cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, and dentures. She uses the latest technologies and techniques to help each patient achieve their best smile. Request an appointment through her website or call her office at (972) 426-2228.