Baton Rouge Dentist

How to Get a Natural-looking Crown on my Front Tooth?

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Hello,

My dentist suggested a porcelain crown over my front tooth to cover up some discoloration. He redid the first one because it was too white, but I don’t like the second one he cemented in. I noticed when I got home how unnatural it looks. He said he’d redo it but should I go back to him, or go see a cosmetic dentist in the city? The only reason I haven’t is because of cost.

Thanks,

Rebecca, from White Plains, NY

 

Hi Rebecca,

Even an expert cosmetic dentist would have many try-ins for a crown on the front tooth. Your dentist needs a few more tries to get it right, but may lack the cosmetic skills to get it to match perfectly. Most dentists will ask patients to crown both their front teeth in order to get them to match perfectly.

You should be able to find a cosmetic dentist within thirty miles to see. However, if your dentist is offering to fix the color of the tooth for free, you may want to keep working with them in order to save money. Your dentist should try taking a picture of your tooth using an intra-oral digital camera. Pictures taken with natural lighting help the most. Then, temporarily cement the crown, and only get it permanently cemented after seeing it in different types of lighting.

An expert cosmetic dentist can give you the most natural look, but if cost is a factor, continue working with your current dentist for a more affordable option.

This blog post is brought to you by Baton Rouge affordable dentist, Dr. Ryan Perry.

Can my dentist replace a new crown that’s the wrong color?

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Last weekend, the day before my daughter’s quincinera of course, I had a crown on one of my back teeth break. My dentist wasn’t available so I found an “emergency dentist” in town and had him fix it for me. He was able to do a same-day crown. I was so glad to get the tooth fixed quickly before the party Saturday. I didn’t notice until earlier this week, though, that the color is off on my new crown. My husband doesn’t think it’s bad, but I think the crown is obvious because it doesn’t match my other teeth. Can I just go to my regular dentist now and have him put a new one on?

Thanks,
Lupe, Sacramento

Dear Lupe,

Both emergency dentists and same-day crowns (most likely a CEREC crown) can be such a blessing, especially when you are in a time crunch. Many people think that emergency dentists only do emergency work, like ER physicians at the hospital. The truth is most emergency dentists are just general dentists. They either work extra hours or are flexible to help people with dental emergencies.

Just because a dentist is willing to help with emergencies doesn’t mean he is an expert at all aspects of dentistry. Most dentists can get a job done. It takes many hours of training and practice for dentists to become skilled at aesthetics–making it look good. Cosmetic dentistry isn’t a recognized specialty that dentists can be certified in.

While it was helpful to get your crown fixed quickly, it sounds like the emergency dentist may not have been skilled at color-matching the crown to your other teeth. Unfortunately, dentists typically set crowns to last. A well-placed crown can last 10-20 years. The only thing to do if you aren’t happy is to have it removed and replaced.

If you know the color is going to continue to bother you, try speaking to the emergency dentist and see if they will make it right. If not, either consult your regular dentist or find a cosmetic dentist in your area who can replace your crown with one you are satisfied with.

This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge Family Dentist.