I have a dental crown on the tooth next to my very front one. My dentist said he is using the whitest shade, but that tooth is still darker than the rest of them. Do you know why he can't match my tooth?
Lizzie
Dear Lizzie,
This sounds like a two-pronged issue. The first part sounds like you may have whitened your teeth at some point with another dentist. The second prong is your dentist not keeping up with the changes in his field.
Updated Shade Guide
Pictured above is the newer shade guide. Do you see those whiter shades on the left end? Those did not used to be there. They were added after teeth whitening became more popular in the 90s. It sounds to me like your dentist is still using the older shade guide that does not have those on there. He may be using the whitest shade on his old guide, but it is not white enough for your smile, which is more modern and brighter than your dentist is used to.
You have two choices here. You can ask him to get the updated shade guide so he can match your teeth better or you can go to another dentist to have your dental crown done properly.
Disclaimer: This article is general information from Dr. Harveer Kaur and is not a substitute for a dental exam, diagnosis, or treatment. Every mouth is different. If you have a concern about your teeth or gums, call our Ahwatukee office at (480) 283-0733 or our Chandler office at (480) 895-3252 and we will help you sort it out.
Dr. Harveer Kaur, DDS, BDS
Dr. Kaur is the founder of Kokopelli Dentistry, serving patients in Ahwatukee and Chandler, Arizona. She focuses on family and cosmetic dentistry.
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