Dental Crown Q&A
91%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
26 Reviews
Dental Crownbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Dental Crown Cost: $2,782

Learn about Dental Crown

129 people and 134 doctors are talking about Dental Crown

Get Free Email Updates

Can a Crown Be Reshaped?

asked 10 months ago by linlinlove in California
Latest answer by Daniel Beninato, DDS
Question viewed 581 times
Tags: reshape

I recently had two new crowns placed on my #10 teeth. I had veneers before &truly loved the look of it, however, my new dentist recommended that I get crowns instead since they both have RCT done on them. My new crowns fit great however, the face of the crowns are so rounded that when I smile in a photo, it looks like my two crowned teeth are barely there. Since they are rounded and not flat like my natural teeth, light does not reflect on them in an appealing way. Can they be reshaped&polish

8 answers to Can a Crown Be Reshaped?

+4

Reshaping of esthetic crowns

The art of dentistry and final restorations take a lot of experience, knowledge of teeth anatomy, feeling of harmony, balance, "feeling" of color, shape and symmetry. The problem that you describe is one of the most common details that identifies "good" crown from "great". The real teeth are never round, they have marginal ridges and don`t appear out of the gum looking like an apple or a mushroom. Usually minor reshaping can be performed carefully in the dental... more
Olga Kharevich, DMD, PhD

Miami Cosmetic Dentist

www.cosmeticreconstructivedentistry.com

+2

ReShaping Dental Crowns

Yes Crowns can be reshaped. However, it is nicer if the crowns are reshaped prior to permanent cementing. This way, if a good deal of reshaping is performed, the vrown can be sent back to the lab and re-glazed to give it the natural appearance that it originally had prior to reshaping. We can polish the crown after reshaping and it will look good, but sending to the lab for re-glazing is best.
Keith Blankenship, DDS

Jacksonville Cosmetic Dentist
+2

Crown reshaping

I agree with Dr. Lockhart. Crowns can be reshaped for minor changes, but major changes are not so easy. It depends on the type of crown that was placed as well. If you are flattening the front surface of the crowns it makes the porcelain thinner. On a porcelain to metal crown this will expose the more opaque porcelain layers or even the metal substructure and make it look even worse. You might be able to try this if the crowns are all-ceramic crowns. Even... more
Martin Frankel, DDS

Toronto Cosmetic Dentist
+2

Can a Crown Be Reshaped?

Wow, great question and great information. Some minor reshaping can be done on most crowns; however, it is extremely difficult to restore the finish to an extensively adjusted crown. It's a shame that the natural contours of the adjacent teeth weren't mimicked in your new crowns. In my office, we would have solicited your approval BEFORE cementing the crowns but even if you were not satisfied after giving approval we would more than likely redo the crowns at no cost to you. It's... more
Brad Lockhart, DDS

Tustin Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Crown Reshaping

It is possible to re-shape a ceramic crown, however the question that needs to be addressed is whether the re-shaping will result in a lower glaze that may not be cosmetically pleasing. If to much reshaping is necessary, it may be a wiser alternative to have the crowns remade. Make sure that you discuss your concerns with your dentist so that communication with the lab is correct.
Daniel Beninato, DDS

Omaha Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Crown Reshaping

It is far easier to round off a flat or squared area than the reverse. Said another way, it is easier to remove a little material than put it back. It is critical that the lab technician consider the contours of the adjacent teeth when designing a veneer or crown so they are mimicked accordingly. In our office we always try the restorations in and have the patient examine the look in a mirror prior to permanent cementation. In some aesthetic cases we may place the... more
Marc Zive, DMD

Springfield Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Fixing crowns

They can be contoured with diamond drills, but this will not change the tranluscency and might make them worse. I would do them over again and go see the ceramist at the dental lab face to face. Tell him what you want. Make sure you are happy with the shape of the temproary crowns first. Then photo graph them and take a mould of them for the lab to copy in the design of the permanent crowns.
Mitchell A. Josephs, DDS

Palm Beach Cosmetic Dentist
+1

Yes, you can reshape a cemented crown

Minor reshaping is common on crowns and not a problem in most cases. If removing some of the 'over roundness' helps the new crowns match you existing teeth, then yes reshaping is the best solution. Your dentist can easily manage this and polish the porcelain to a high gloss again. Of course, some additional concerns apply to metal based crowns - although the great majority of anterior crowns are all-ceramic in 2011. The only problem is if the new crown needs... more
Greg Lutke, DDS

Plano Cosmetic Dentist

www.lutkedental.com

Ask a question