I got new crowns in February, and they did not match my teeth. My dentist recommended whitening my teeth first and matching the crowns to them. I trusted my dentist at the time, but now I have regrets. Well, my natural teeth are less brighter than when my dentist first did Zoom, but my new crowns look dark. I gave it some time to see if I could adjust, but the crowns are too noticeable. My dentist says that my teeth and crowns are a close match, but that is not good enough for me. Is it too late to do anything about this? Thank you. Kelli
Kelli,
Thank you for your question.
Whitening your teeth before getting new crowns can help a dentist and dental lab match the crowns to your new tooth color.
Why Don’t Your Crowns Match the Color of Your Teeth?
When new crowns do not match the color of your teeth, the reasons may include:
- Your dentist did not finish your whitening sessions. A dentist must complete all Zoom whitening sessions before choosing your crown color. If the dentist must complete another session, or if you do at-home touchups, your teeth will be whiter than your crowns.
- Your tooth color did not stabilize. It can take another week or two for your tooth color to stabilize. If a dentist color matches your crowns before the color of your teeth settles, your crowns will be too dark.
- Your dentist requested the wrong crown shade from the lab. Dental ceramists at laboratories make crowns based on your dentist’s requests. Your dentist may have ordered the wrong color.
Your dental records include the instructions that your dentist sent to the lab. But you would not be able to determine if your dentist’s request matches your new tooth color. We recommend speaking with your dentist again to ask why your crowns and teeth do not match.
If you do not get satisfying answers and your dentist is unwilling to correct your crown color, you can ask for a copy of your dental records. Afterward, you can request a refund and find an advanced cosmetic dentist to give you a beautiful smile.
Monroe, Louisiana accredited Fellow of cosmetic dentistry Dr. David Finley sponsors this post.
