Elmhurst Restorative Dentists Explain Why Custom-Fit Crowns Are So Important

Written by Dr. Scharfenberg on Jul 31, 2018

When it comes time to restore your smile, you absolutely do not want to settle for one-size-fit-all restorations. The truth is that, in order for restorations to be functional and durable, they really need to be personalized to fit the patient’s smile down to the smallest details.

A dental crown or restorations is used to rebuild and repair a tooth after damage due to infection or trauma. When our Elmhurst dentists create dental crowns, we look to the patient’s natural teeth for guidance on the shape, size, and color of the crown.

It is crucial that your restoration is appropriately sized for your smile. When a crown is too large or too small, it can actually disrupt the patient’s natural bite alignment. Poorly sized restorations cause patients to change how they bite and chew; ultimately, this can lead to TMJ dysfunction and pain.

Likewise, an improperly shaped crown can through your whole smile off. When you look in the mirror, you may notice that your teeth are naturally more angular or more rounded. Teeth come in all kinds of shapes, which is why our team looks to your existing smile to guide us during the crown fabrication process. Just like with a poorly sized crown, a poorly shaped crown can throw off the balance of your entire smile.

Finally, it’s important that we shade the crown so that it matches your natural enamel. The ultimate goal is for your dental crown to blend in seamlessly with your existing tooth color. One thing to keep in mind: if you’re interested in lightening your natural enamel, it’s best to do this before we create your crown. Once we lighten your teeth, we can shade your restoration to match your post-whitening smile. Dental crowns and restorations cannot be lightened with topical gels.  

Taking the time to thoroughly pre-plan the design of your dental crown helps to ensure that end up with results that you love. Give our Elmhurst dentists a call to learn more!