How to Pick a Color for Tooth Caps?
When considering crowns or caps a common question is
how white the caps should be. Usually, the answer is to whiten your natural teeth to
either the level of whiteness you want or to the brightest they can be. Your cosmetic
dentist will then have the caps made to that color. Teeth are of course not monochromatic,
so typically more than one color is used to create a very natural look. This color
variation is critical in avoiding fake or artificial looking teeth. It is the internal
contrast of colors that help create vitality. The internal play of light on the porcelain
in the restoration helps to create this vitality. Surface texture is also very important,
and helps to break up light reflections and make the cap look more natural.
There is no one standard system in the dental field to measure and determine tooth color.
The most often heard about, however, is the Vita shade guide. This guide divides tooth
color into four basic shade ranges:
A (reddish brown)
B (reddish yellow)
C (gray)
D (reddish gray).
In the A range there are five levels of darkness. Ranges B, C and D, each have four
levels.
Not all of your teeth are the same natural color. Usually your eye teeth tend to be darker
than the others, your front teeth are typically the whitest, and molars tend to be a shade
between the two. The goal for everyone is to achieve their individual optimum whiteness
while still looking natural.
Most dentists will show you a shade chart (like the above mentioned Vita Shade Guide) for
you to pick from. Keep in mind, with a good dentist this is merely a starting
point. Other considerations when determining the caps and veneers for each patient are
your complexion, hair color, the color of your natural teeth and even your eye color.
Next: Discuss caps with
others
- Introduction to dental caps section
- Dental caps - an overview
- Who is a candidate for having teeth capped?
- Tooth caps - Procedure description
- Varieties of tooth caps
- How much do dental caps cost?
- Pros and cons of tooth caps
- Dental caps - Before and after photos
- Personal stories from people who have had tooth caps
- Picking the color for tooth caps
- Discuss caps with others
  
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