Six months ago, I found a cosmetic dentist to bleach my teeth Hollywood white. I waited until the color settled to be sure my teeth were super white. Then I asked him to replace five crowns on my upper front teeth plus one implant crown to match my whitened teeth.
When the crowns arrived, the ones on my natural teeth were almost a shade lighter than the super-white BL1 shade that the dentist agreed to give me. And the crown on the dental implant is a complete mismatch. I was disappointed, but the dentist and I decided that most people would not notice. I don’t know why I agreed to that! Anyway, now the crowns are yellowing. If I drink coffee or tea, it stains the crowns. I talked to the dentist about it, but he reminded me that I agreed to accept the crowns. He says that he can replace them at a 10% discount. It’s not like I trust this dentist anymore, so I am looking for a new cosmetic dentist. But I am wondering if the results will be any better. Is it worth it? Thank you. Antonia
Antonia,
Dr. Imam would need to examine your teeth and dental records to recommend treatment. But we will discuss your issue in general.
We also want our readers to understand some basics about crown color. So, we included a photo of the Ivoclar shade guide for bleached teeth to show shade colors, including BL1. On the classic shade guide to the right, A1 is usually the whitest shade of natural teeth without bleaching.
Facts about the BL1 shade:
- Shade BL1 is beyond the whiteness of natural teeth.
- Professional teeth bleaching can help you achieve shade BL1
- Super white crowns would look fake unless all your teeth are bleached to shade BL1 first.
What Makes Porcelain Crowns Turn Yellow?
Porcelain crowns can turn yellow due to several factors:
- The crowns are not genuine porcelain – Intact porcelain crowns do not stain or turn yellow
- Damage to the glaze on your crowns – If something breaks the glaze on your crowns, they can discolor. Acidulated fluoride or power polishing equipment in a dental office can damage the glaze and cause your crowns to attract stains. A dental hygienist who lacks training in caring for porcelain restorations may mistakenly use the items on your teeth.
We recommend that you schedule an appointment for a second opinion from an expert cosmetic dentist. The dentist will examine the crowns to determine what is causing the discoloration. Yes, an experienced cosmetic dentist can match your natural teeth and the dental implant crown with the BL1 shade of your whitened teeth.
San Antonio cosmetic dentist Mohamed Imam, DDS of San Antonio, sponsors this post.