Are temporary crowns an indicator of what the permanent crown will look like? (photo)

Matching a single front tooth crown is probably one of the hardest esthetic tasks in dentistry! There are ways to customize temporary crowns for better matching of front teeth, but the materials used for this are typically quite opaque which can make it hard to get a great match. This all depends on the variations of shade in the natural teeth, the amount of opacity as well. With porcelain, the possibilities are "endless." When you return to the office for the try-in of the new porcelain crown, be sure to have an opportunity to look at the crown on your tooth before it is bonded in place. In my office, I often find taking a photograph and looking at the photograph is even more "telling" about how well the crown matches. I usually take two photos, one with a natural smile, and one with a very exaggerated smile; this allows me to see what your friends and family will see when looking at you! If you aren't happy with the appearance, chances are your dentist won't be happy either and will request changes from the ceramist at the dental laboratory until you both are happy!Good luck!

Give your dentist a call just to check your concerns. Temporary crown materials are sometimes moderately realistic, but more often not very realistic in shade or opacity. Labs can make temporaries which are quite expensive but can look excellent. For standard crown fittings these would be a little excessive, and your dentist would expect you to pay the difference.I think a few words over the phone with your dentist should be enough to reassure you in this instance. Good luck Thomas Dey, BDS, MSc

Hi:In most instances temporary crown is not the best representation of the final restoration, however you should communicate your concerns with the temporary to your dentist.Best,Dr. Maddahi