I am getting four dental implants on my front teeth. I decided on four separate implants with four separate crowns. I asked my dentist what to expect. He told me we’d do the implant surgery with an oral surgeon. Then, after everything heals he will do six dental crowns. He said that the other two are necessary to get the teeth to match well. Here is my concern. Why does it take an extra two crowns to get them to look right? Maybe I am being silly, but those other two teeth are healthy so I sort of hate to put crowns on them. Is there another option?
Elisabeth
Dear Elisabeth,
I am very glad you wrote. You are not being silly. I would say you are being very smart. It is not necessary. Generally, when a dentist is suggesting extra crowns in order to match teeth, it is because they don’t have very good cosmetic skills and this is an easier way to match the teeth. Here is the problem for the patient when that happens.
First, it costs more money. Money that you could use elsewhere. Second, as you have pointed out, it unnecessarily damages healthy tooth structure. Third, just because the teeth match, doesn’t mean they will look good.
One thing you did not mention is your dentist suggesting you have teeth whitening done. I don’t know how wide your smile is, but most smiles are 8-10 teeth wide. Even with those two extra (unnecessary) crowns your adjacent natural teeth would still show.
Here is my suggestion. First, you need to find a different dentist to do this procedure. Your front teeth are one of the first things people notice about you. I don’t want you to end up in the cosmetic dentistry horror story files we’ve accumulated over the years hearing stories from people who went to bad cosmetic dentists.
My suggestion is you look for an AACD accredited dentist who is also highly trained in placing dental implants. Then, get your teeth whitened to the level of whiteness you want your smile to be. Then, when your implant dentist creates your porcelain crowns, they will match the color you will want permanently.
This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.