One of my front teeth needed a dental crown. I am tired of going to the dentist’s office and told him I’d prefer the one visit crown. But, he told me he never does those on front teeth. Shouldn’t that be my choice?

Mel

Dear Mel,

I realize you said you’re tired of going to the dentist. But, let me ask you if going one more time meant the difference between a beautiful, natural-looking smile or something that looked good but just a bit off, would you be willing to make the extra trip?

CEREC crowns are wonderful. They’re attractive, they’re strong. But, they’re milled from a single block of porcelain. Your front teeth are so visible and receive much more light than the rest of your teeth that they need all the natural subtleties that you can only get by using different porcelains. Traditional all-porcelain crowns don’t have that problem because your dentist can craft them using more time.
Notice that as you go down the tooth it becomes more translucent but at the edges it’s a little more opaque. You can’t get that without baking different layers on. To accomplish that with a CEREC machine, you’d need an expert cosmetic dentist.

How to Find a Dentist Who Can Give You a Gorgeous CEREC Crown

Very few dentists can give you a stunning CEREC crown on a front tooth. But, if you absolutely cannot handle the idea of two appointments, you’ll need to go to the right dentist. Ideally, you’ll want a dentist who is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). These dentists have past stringent exams and demonstrated their artistry in creating beautiful smiles.

Something you should also be aware of is any type of dental work, such as dental crowns, white fillings, or porcelain veneers will not whiten like your natural teeth. The color your dentist makes them is permanent. If you’re considering whitening your teeth, you’ll want to do so before you get your crown so it can be made to match your new whiter teeth.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.