A dental crown is a small cap that’s shaped like a tooth. It covers the entire visible part of a tooth to improve its look, function, and structure. Crowns can be used to fix severely damaged teeth. They are also often used after someone undergoes a root canal. Though dental crowns offer many restorative benefits, they can also improve the color, size, and overall look of a tooth. Crowns are color-matched to your smile, but have you ever wondered how a dentist is able to do that? Read on to learn more about how this process works.
Why Teeth Are Different Colors
Though you may not always notice it, one person’s mouth can contain teeth of a variety of colors. This usually occurs when existing dental work like crowns or fillings become discolored over time. Dental staining from consuming dark or highly pigmented foods and beverages like cola, berries, tea, red wine, soy sauce, and coffee can also cause this. If someone has teeth of several colors, this can make it harder for their dentist to pick the right shade for dental crowns. Even so, your dentist will always try to match it to the adjacent teeth for the best results.
How Your Dentist Can Create a Custom Tooth Shade
To choose the right color for a crown, many dentists use a shade guide. This is a metal or plastic card that features rows of porcelain teeth in a range of different hues. Your dentist can hold this guide up to your smile to find the best match. To ensure that your smile is uniform, there are several tactics they use, including:
- Analyzing images of adjacent teeth –Some dentist have advanced technology at their disposal that allows them to take pictures of your adjacent teeth. They can then analyze the color of these teeth to better match the shade of your dental crown.
- Natural light – The type of lighting you use will make your smile look different. That’s why your dentist utilizes natural light. This allows them to get the best color-match results.
- Controlling color contrast –Brightly colored makeup can make it hard for your dentist to focus on the shades of your pearly whites, so they may ask you to remove it. They may also use a gray apron so it’s easier for them to focus.
If you’re having a dental crown placed, your dentist will do what they can to make sure it matches your surrounding teeth as closely as possible. This will help them achieve a healthy, happy smile that you can’t wait to show off!
About the Practice
Dr. Marley Rinoldo and Dr. Simone P. Reid are the two compassionate, talented dentists who lead the team at Lyndon Family Dental. They enjoy helping people learn the best methods to care for their smiles and offer treatments like dental crowns to repair damaged teeth. If you want more information on the services offered at Lyndon Family Dental or to make an appointment with their highly skilled Fayetteville team, visit their website or call their office at (315) 449-0711.