I fell and broke both my center front teeth and the tooth to the left of them. My dentist did root canals on all three teeth and crowned them. The temporary crowns were too big and thick. My dentist redid the crowns that were closer in size to my natural teeth, but the color is off. My dentist ordered and cemented the final crowns, which look gray near the gumline. I couldn’t see that with the try-in, or I would have insisted on new crowns. My dentist is willing to try again with a white core from the crowns, but I am tired of the inconvenience and frustration. Is it worth another try, or is it time for a refund? Thank you. Seth from Austin, TX

Seth,

If your crowns are the wrong size, too thick, and the color is off, your dentist probably isn’t skilled in cosmetic dentistry. A cosmetic dentist can achieve proper crown shape, size, thickness, and shade.

Why Are Your Dental Crowns Gray Near the Gumline?

Your new dental crowns may be gray near the gumline if your dentist reinforced them with a metal post in each tooth because they broke and needed support. The metal may show through the translucent crowns.

How to Prevent a Metal Tooth Post from Showing Through a Crown

A flexible fiberglass post and dental composite core can give the crowns natural translucence. Even a metal core can be concealed with an opaque layer over the metal to block the color and bond the crown to the layer. Or, your dentist could have instructed the dental lab to create opaquing into the crown to hide the metal.

Without post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry, it can be challenging to understand how interior colors in a crown affect its external appearance. We recommend consulting an accredited cosmetic dentist or a dentist with extensive post-graduate aesthetic training. Your dentist’s multiple attempts to correct your crowns suggest he can’t give you natural-looking results. Remember, it’s your right to seek a second opinion. Schedule a consultation with a cosmetic dentist.

San Antonio cosmetic dentists Dr. Gilberto Tostado and Dr. Karina Acuña sponsor this post. Read how they strive to provide patients with some of the best dental care in San Antonio.