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Original poster

Permanent crown looks worse that temporary

49 replies

DrFoxtrot · 21/09/2023 12:17

I've been to the dentist this morning to have my permanent crown fitted but it looks worse than the temporary! The colour seems all wrong. I've attached photos. I'm going back in four weeks once the gum has settled and I've already told them I'm not happy with the appearance/ colour. To me it stands out like a fake tooth.

The crown is two teeth attached to one implant. I do have crap gums so there has been quite a bit of recession as it has been healing. Further back on the same side I have a bridge and the colour for that seems fine! Why can't they match the new crown? Have they made a mistake?

Should I be looking for them to replace the crown with a better colour match at no extra charge? I've paid 4k+ already.

The crown also has a little pink bit to match the gum but I didn't ask for this and I think it would look better all white/ tooth coloured.

Any advice about what I should ask for or other people's experience welcome.

Last photo is of the temporary crown which was a better colour.

Permanent crown looks worse that temporary
Permanent crown looks worse that temporary
Permanent crown looks worse that temporary
OP posts:
Original poster
DrFoxtrot · 21/09/2023 12:18

Lovely photos there 😂😂

OP posts:
Peacelily001 · 21/09/2023 12:41

I’ve got to be honest, I can’t even tell which one is the crown!
Thats a good thing surely?

Original poster
DrFoxtrot · 21/09/2023 13:11

Thanks, that is a good thing 😄 do you think I might be overreacting? To me it sticks out like a sore thumb and wanted the colour to match like the last photo.

OP posts:

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Lovemydaxie · 21/09/2023 13:36

I had problems with colour matching a crown on a front tooth. Had to go to the technician 4 times until they got it right. If the crown hasn't yet been permanently glued on then they should be able to take it off for the colour to be adjusted. If it is permanently glued on then they would have to drill it off. I truly sympathise but luckily my dentist was supportive and kept sending me back to the lab until we were both happy with it.

Original poster
DrFoxtrot · 21/09/2023 13:38

It's on an implant so I think they can simply unscrew it? 😬 not sure if that's right or not. I hope so.

OP posts:
Original poster
DrFoxtrot · 21/09/2023 13:39

@Lovemydaxie did you have to pay for all the different crowns in the wrong shades?

OP posts:
IDontDrinkTea · 21/09/2023 13:40

i was going to comment and suggest putting new photos with the crown circled… but actually surely the fact that I can’t identify the crown is a good thing?!

RedDoughnut · 21/09/2023 13:42

I can't tell. My DC has crowns and I have looked at loads over the years.

CosyCoffee · 21/09/2023 13:45

I think it's obvious which is the crown, and I agree it looked better before. The pink bit is bizarre. I'm sorry OP, I wouldn't be happy with that either x

YukoandHiro · 21/09/2023 13:45

I also have no idea which is the crown...

Original poster
DrFoxtrot · 21/09/2023 13:54

CosyCoffee · 21/09/2023 13:45

I think it's obvious which is the crown, and I agree it looked better before. The pink bit is bizarre. I'm sorry OP, I wouldn't be happy with that either x

I definitely feel that I want it to look as good as it can having spent 4k. And that wasn't even for the implant as the implant was there before 😭

OP posts:
Orange67 · 21/09/2023 13:55

I dont like the look of the pink bit, sorry :(

Original poster
DrFoxtrot · 21/09/2023 13:56

Crown is these two teeth - one of the teeth is attached to an implant and the other is like a bridge attached to that tooth.

Permanent crown looks worse that temporary
OP posts:
Original poster
DrFoxtrot · 21/09/2023 13:59

Can I ask for the temporary to be put back on and just leave it? Are there risks to having a temporary longer term?

I didn't ask questions today as I didn't have a very good look at it until I was in the car. I've already called and said I'm unhappy with the appearance though.

I have spent a lot of money on some of my teeth and it annoys me that some people can get a good cosmetic result and I'm struggling to achieve that!

OP posts:
notagain2020 · 21/09/2023 14:06

Can it not be remade in the same shade as the temporary? Or were they not done by the same lab. If the £4k didn't include the implant as well, as it was already there, then you can definitely expect them to get a good colour match for the £ you have paid.

Original poster
DrFoxtrot · 21/09/2023 14:13

@notagain2020 I hope they can remake it. I assumed it was the same lab. I'm baffled as to how it can look worse when the permanent crown is supposed to look better. How they've managed to get the shade for the permanent wrong.

This is also the second time they've tried to fit the permanent - I went two weeks ago for the fitting but the dentist couldn't get it to fit so I had new impressions made and another permanent crown made. Which was the one fitted today.

OP posts:
Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 21/09/2023 14:16

It looks lovely and natural. ( I have 10 crowns). I thought you were going to post about turkey teeth. Which thankfully your are not.

Lovemydaxie · 21/09/2023 14:39

OP when I had to keep having the colour adjusted on my crown, they didn't need to remake it. The dentist put it on initially with temporary glue and then the lab adjusted to colour on the original crown. I went to the lab so they could see it in my mouth, they took it off and tweaked the colour until it was right. If they are on with temporary glue they pull off quite easily and no, I didn't have to pay extra. My dentist insisted the lab get it right which they moaned about but they did do a good job in the end. He glued it on permanently only when we were happy with it. I don't think you are making a fuss as I wouldn't be happy with it either. You are the one who has got to live with it and you have paid a lot of money. I would definitely get them to sort it out.

Silverdogblue · 21/09/2023 14:39

I’m not sure it’s the shade that’s wrong, possibly more the contour and that’s affecting the way it’s reflecting the light. Particularly when you compare it to the other side.

I don’t know what your dentist makes their temporary crowns from but their colour isn’t usually stable, can pick up stains and pigment etc, also not usually too healthy for your gums as the margins aren’t smooth like permanent crowns.

Either way you’re not happy so you need to go back. Did they take photos? Did the technician see the teeth?

Don’t fixate on the pink bit. Your gums have a lot of work to do yet so it might well settle and blend in. Definitely give that a few weeks.

Final point! Most people look at you from arms length at least so you will be hypercritical when it might not be an issue from normal social distance.

Fumnudge · 21/09/2023 14:49

I wouldn't accept that. Re the pink 'gum', I get what they were trying to do but it's now too low compared to your gum line.
Also ask the dentist which tooth they matched the colour to. It looks like they matched to the opposite side of your mouth instead of your front teeth. I guess that's a personal preference looks wise, tricky to know which looks better but I personally would like a compromise between the two so it blended more.

Original poster
DrFoxtrot · 21/09/2023 14:54

I'm taking selfies like an obsessed mad woman 🙈.

Can something be done about the contour? I do think the shades are not a good match.

When I had the implant done last year, I had a few months with a partial denture and even that looked better!

OP posts:
FallingAutumnLeaf · 21/09/2023 17:39

WTF is going on with crown colours at the moment?
Mine got sent back last month. Thankfully before the temporary came out.
The new one looks natural.
Yours doesn't look right when looking carefully at a close up, but I'm not sure how noticeable it would be in real life?
Is the gum likely to settle and look less sore? I think that will help.

Silverdogblue · 21/09/2023 18:58

FallingAutumnLeaf · 21/09/2023 17:39

WTF is going on with crown colours at the moment?
Mine got sent back last month. Thankfully before the temporary came out.
The new one looks natural.
Yours doesn't look right when looking carefully at a close up, but I'm not sure how noticeable it would be in real life?
Is the gum likely to settle and look less sore? I think that will help.

It’s not like there’s a nationwide supplier! It can be really difficult to get the shade and translucency right, as well as the shape and contours. Colour perception varies hugely amongst humans and a lot of men particularly, are on a scale of colourblindness. There are all sorts of hues and layers which make up a tooth, it’s really not as simple as it might seem from one end of the process.

OP, yes of course the contour can be changed. Just try to work out precisely what your issues are before you go back. That will help. Let the gum settle as well and stop taking selfies. It really won’t help.

This is why dentists bang on so much about prevention and sigh in exasperation when people think extracting everything to get “fake teeth” is the solution to anything. Fake teeth are technically exceptionally intricate for very many reasons.

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 21/09/2023 19:14

Give it 24 hours. I was told by my dentist during my crown process that teeth dehydrate during dental work.

My dentist didn’t like the first crown attempt either. She sent it back to be remade a tiny bit darker.

Oldermum84 · 21/09/2023 19:22

I think it looks great. I'd give it a while if I were you, you'll probably get used to it in a few days.