Glancing at the photo to the left, what is the first thing you notice? Is it the sound structure of the walkway, or the fact that there are no missing bricks? It is unlikely that this is the case, as even the shortest of glances would immediately draw the eyes to the stark discoloration. You notice that it has been repaired, and that the grout surrounding the repairs is a different color than older, undamaged brickwork. Although the walkway is structurally sound, a first impression is created around the walkway’s less than pleasing aesthetic.
Appearances are extremely powerful. Just as eyes immediately gravitate toward differences among the bricks, the same rings true for our smiles. Now and again we require our teeth to be repaired or replaced due to injury, decay, or infection. When teeth need to be replaced or require new crowns, it is important for the resulting smile to appear as natural as possible. Matching surrounding teeth can be a challenge, and a perfect match is often difficult for even the most seasoned dentist. To ensure the best match possible for the most natural looking aesthetic, it is crucial to place your trust in a dentist with a proven record of excellence.
Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that if complex dental restorations on multiple
teeth are necessary, spreading treatments out over several months or years may not be the best option for your smile. If even the same dentist does the procedures over an extended period of time, matching adjacent teeth may become far more challenging. While you may initially desire to spread the work out for financial reasons, it is important to discuss these challenges with your dentist to ensure the best aesthetic result for your rejuvenated smile. Matching repaired or replaced teeth with the rest of the smile is the key to creating the right first impression.
Before: A dentist attempted to restore the two teeth on her right with porcelain to match the two natural teeth on her left. The color match and the angles of the teeth were less than ideal.
After: Two new porcelain crowns matched the colors and shapes of the natural teeth. The black triangle” between the two front teeth was reduced in size.
