Although my dentist replaced the first mismatched implant crown, he gave me, the second crown is no better. Twice I went to the lab my dentist uses for color assessment. But my dentist attached the crown without assessing the color. He did not even ask my opinion. I thought he was putting the crown on for me to check—not cementing it. It felt as if my jawbone would break because my dentist had trouble attaching the crown to the implant. Well, now the crown is the wrong color, and it hurts. I chose this dentist for his holistic approach, but it doesn’t seem like he is good with crowns. Should I ask for a refund and find a better dentist? Am I wrong for thinking this is ridiculous? Thank you. Sherry from Utah

Sherry,

Your frustration is understandable. Unfortunately, you are the victim, but your case shows the difference between dentists who understand aesthetics—creating beautiful dental work—versus those who want to fix it and get it done.

Although your dentist is interested in holistic care, it seems your dentist lacks aesthetics training, so your crown does not match. And your description makes it seem that your dentist is not interested in your satisfaction with the work either.

What Can You Do If Your Implant Crowns Do Not Match?

If your dental crowns do not match and your dentist cannot correct them, you need to find a dentist trained in aesthetics and with artistic inclination. A skilled cosmetic dentist is your best option for getting predictable results.

A cosmetic dentist would ensure the crown color is correct before cementing it. And if the color is off, they will return your crown to the lab to correct it.

When a dentist sends you to the lab for a color check, it is a clue that the dentist is not skilled in matching restorations (e.g., a crown) to your tooth color. Your dentist should be more qualified than the technician and instruct the technician with notes on what to do to color-match the implant crown to your natural teeth. A cosmetic dentist also sends a shade guide and pictures of your smile to help the lab tech craft an accurate match.

How to Find a Reliable Cosmetic Dentist

We recommend looking for a holistic dentist with advanced cosmetic dentistry training. How can you find a trustworthy cosmetic dentist?

• Look for a dentist with extensive post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry.
• Look at a few holistic dentists’ websites and smile galleries to see the quality of their work.
• Then, schedule consultations with two of them, discuss your concerns, and decide who you can trust to finish the work.

Best wishes for a beautiful new implant crown.

Gilberto Tostado, DDS of San Antonio, TX, sponsors this post. Dr. Tostado is a prosthodontist, or specialist in tooth replacement and restoration.