More and more now, modern dental crowns do more than just protect weak teeth. Those made with the right materials hide flaws and blend seamlessly with your smile’s shade! That being the case, you could easily start to wonder: How do dentists color-match dental crowns? Luckily, there’s good news – your Frisco dental practice is here to share the details! Just keep reading to learn what goes into the dental crown color-matching process.
Color-Matching Dental Crowns: A Process
To correctly color-match a dental crown to your smile, many dentists will do these three things:
Check the Tooth (or Teeth) Under Natural Light
For starters, the dentist will usually check your tooth (or teeth) under natural light. That lets them see your smile’s shade accurately, without distortion from incandescent lighting. Viewing the color under a tinted light fixture would make the shade look different, leading to a mismatched crown.
Use a Proper Dental Shade Guide
Besides a natural light “check,” many dentists will use a shade guide to decide a dental crown’s shade. This tool is a metal card with fake teeth of many hues, typically ranging from dark yellow to bright white. A dentist will hold it against your smile to confirm your tooth’s natural shade.
Reduce the Contrast with Other Colors
To keep things safe during color selection, dentists will also reduce the contrast that might interfere with their viewing. For example, they may place a gray bib over your chest if you wear brightly-colored clothes to your visit. Similarly, the dentist could have you remove any bright lipstick or makeup on your face. Either action removes interferences, giving your dentists’ eyes a neutral resting place.
How Does the Actual Coloring Work?
Given the above points, dentists can decide on your crown’s final color. They’ll start the actual coloring once they make that choice.
The custom coloring of a dental crown involves a few key steps. Firstly, the dentist will send relevant images – drawings, photos, etc. – to a dental lab. The lab’s ceramist will then use those images to craft a dental crown with the right shade. This final product won’t be perfect, but any color difference will be so slight that it’s virtually invisible. Once the dentist can confirm that much, they’ll place the final dental crown on your tooth.
Due to how dentists color-match dental crowns, you can trust treatment to have excellent results. That said, consult your dental provider if you have any other questions.
About the Practice
Frisco Dental Care is based in the bustling town of Frisco, TX. Led by Dr. Phillips, our practice has been proudly offering quality dentistry for over thirty years! Whether a patient needs preventive, cosmetic, or even restorative treatment, we’ll ensure each visit ends with a thriving smile. Whether you need a dental checkup or dental crowns, our team will be here for you. For more details or to book a visit, reach us on our website or by phone at (972)-712-0500.