A crown is a crown and it doesn’t matter what dentist does it, right?
Before you find the dentist that is the closest and the cheapest because you think all dentists are the same, realize THEY ARE NOT! The saying “You get what you pay for” applies here as well. Skill and experience DOES matter when it comes to cosmetics! Finding a high-end cosmetic dentist is worth it when you plan on having those crowns or veneers the rest of your life. We’ll let you know what to look for in a bit, but first let’s explain the differences in crowns/veneers.
Did you know there are different grades of crowns / veneers?! Differences are the following:
- Porcelain Layers
- Light Penetration
- Colors
- Translucency
You want to have that Hollywood DIAMOND SMILE right?! These differences are big when it comes to your smile looking natural and beautiful, versus thick and opaque! So let’s look at these differences:
Porcelain Layers – the more the better. Most crowns/veneers are made out of a solid block of porcelain. In other words, they are one color. If the dentist wants other colors added to them, the lab adds paint to the surface, which results in a less translucent, more opaque looking crown/veneer.
A crown/veneer that uses multiple layers of porcelain colors, instead of paints, provides the opportunity to have a more natural looking tooth. Everyone’s teeth are different but we want to make sure we match what people have. Depending on the detailed needs of the patient, some people require more layers, some less.
Light Penetration – Have you ever been at the beach and noticed the different colors in the ocean? Near the beach, the water can have a beautiful turquoise color, but the deeper you go, the darker the water looks. The same thing happens with teeth. Natural teeth are very translucent, allowing light to penetrate deep into the tooth and reflecting back, giving its natural appearance. A “cheaper” crown, with no layers of porcelain, does not have this light penetration, so it looks thicker, and more opaque, while a “layered” crown allows lights penetration and gives the most natural appearance.
Colors / Translucency – take a mirror and look carefully at your own natural tooth. Again, everyone is different but there are yellows, whites, blues, and different translucencies. Yellows typically at the gum line, white and yellows throughout the body of the tooth, then more whites, blues, translucency towards the end. A solid crown/veneer will depend on paints to try and replicate these intricate details, but honestly, it just can’t be done, while a “layered” crown can give incredible detail and provides the best opportunity to provide you with the most natural, beautiful looking tooth possible.
Now let’s go on to shape and spacing!
This is where a dentist’s skill, knowledge, and experience DOES MATTER! The reality is that any good lab can make a beautiful crown/veneer, but without further instructions, is still left guessing what needs to be done. Without proper direction, even the best dental labs can send something back that doesn’t look great for that patient. Besides the color and translucency, a cosmetic dentist understands that he must tell the lab exactly what shape he desires in order to get the beautiful results the patient deserves!
Female’s teeth are generally more oval, and have rounded edges for a softer look, while men’s teeth tend to be more square in shape. The length of the teeth helps determine your age and if you want a more youthful or older appearance! Look at a young teenager’s teeth and see the shapes and length of his/her teeth. They usually haven’t chewed enough nails, pens, tape, opened cans, etc to accidentally chip their teeth or wear them down where they are all even. If you want teeth that are straight across, we will do it, but we never recommend it!
A high-end cosmetic dentist will take into consideration the shape and color of the tooth, along with things you may not think about, such as: facial shape, hair color, skin color, age, and more! So before you get that Hollywood Smile you’ve been wanting, here is your to-do list:
- Look for a dentist that specializes in high-end dental cosmetics, knows the differences we’ve talked about above, and can educate you on them.
- Look at the dentist’s portfolio of before / after photos. This can usually be found on their website and definitely when you come to his/her office.
- Finally, look at their reviews
We are not the only ones out there who focus on high-end cosmetics but there aren’t many. So, for your sake, please do your research and if you have any questions, call us, as this is what we specialize in!