Getting dental crowns can restore both the health and the aesthetics of your smile. However, if the shade doesn’t match, it can stand out in all the wrong ways, leaving you feeling self-conscious. Luckily, dentists use a mix of science, technology, and a dab of artistic talent to make sure your crowns look like they were always part of your smile. Here’s how.
Shade, Not Color
When it comes to color matching, the name is a little bit of a misnomer. Dentists don’t just talk about tooth “color,” instead, they use the concept of “shade,” which includes three distinct elements—hue, chroma, and value.
- Hue is the base color of your tooth which can lean more towards yellow, gray, or red.
- Chroma refers to how saturated or intense a color is.
- Value is how light or dark the tooth looks.
Together, these factors make up the true shade of your smile which helps your dentist find the perfect match for your crown.
Tools of the Trade
The most common way dentists perform color-matching is with a shade guide. This is a fan-like set of cards with small porcelain tabs of different shades attached to it. To use it, your dentist will first ask that you remove or cover any distracting colors like bright lipstick. Then, they’ll turn on a special light that mimics UV rays and hold the guide up to your teeth to find the closest match.
Alternatively, many dentists now use spectrometers to measure tooth color with impressive accuracy. These small electronic devices help support your dentist’s natural eye for detail by providing a second, less subjective opinion.
Careful Collaboration
Once your dentist is confident that they’ve found your shade, they’ll take photos of your teeth to send to a partnered dental lab. There, skilled ceramists build your crown using ceramic materials and various pigments.
Since color perception can vary from person to person, an absolutely perfect match is rare. However, modern methods usually get so close that differences are almost impossible to see without a degree in color theory.
As you can see, matching a crown isn’t all that easy. It’s a process that’s been perfected over decades to achieve consistently accurate results. So, the next time you look at your dental crowns, you can better appreciate all the hard work and dedication your dentist and the dental lab team put into your smile.
About the Author
Dr. Alison Garrad is a dedicated dentist with more than a decade of experience helping patients find relief from dental damage. She earned her dental degree from the Texas A&M College of Dentistry, where she graduated in the top 5% of her class. Today, she continues advancing her skills through training in Invisalign and dental implants while building lasting relationships with her Greenville patients. Call (903) 455-6075 to schedule an appointment at Stone Street Dental or visit our website to see a full menu of services.