Hi there,
I needed a crown on one of my incisors a few weeks ago. I opted for a same-day CEREC crown. I was happy with the process, but when I got home, I noticed my crown was lighter than the rest of my teeth, and did not match. Every time I smile, my eye is drawn to it, and it bother me quite a bit.
I decided to try to fix the problem on my own without going back to my cosmetic dentist. I tried many different at-home teeth whitening products, but no matter what I do, I cannot brighten my teeth to the same shade of white as my crown. Can my dentist make my CEREC crown darker at all? Is there anything he can do at all?
Thank you,
Myles, from Niagara Falls, New York
Hi Myles,
You may want to consider a different dentist before you go back to your previous one. A good cosmetic dentist will take great care to match the shade of your crown to your natural teeth. They also will make sure you are happy with your CEREC crown before letting you go home. Most cosmetic dentists will choose a different type of crown besides a CEREC crown, such as one made from porcelain instead of ceramic.
The CEREC crown you received is milled from a ceramic block that is all the same color. To match the CEREC crown to your front tooth requires mixing and matching materials to get the best match for your remaining teeth.
Tints and shades can be added to the ceramic CEREC crown, but it needs to be baked into the crown prior to being put in your mouth. In order to change the shade, you will need to have your crown replaced and redone.
If you return to your dentist to redo the crown, be sure to check the color under different types of lighting – natural light, fluorescent light, sunlight, the bathroom light, etc. If you have any concerns, address them with your dentist before leaving. You can also check the shade guide before the crown gets made.
For best results, you will want an experienced cosmetic dentist, but if your dentist is willing to remake the crown, feel free to return for another crown.
This blog post is brought to you by Enfield CEREC crown provider, Dr. William Cummiskey, of Generations Dental Care.
