Zoom whitening makes my crowns look dark even though I got my teeth whitened before I got crowns. My dentist suggested that I whiten my teeth first so that crowns could be made to match them but my crowns are darker than my teeth anyway. This is not what I had in mind and the crowns are on the right front of my mouth so it is noticeable. Why would this happen if we properly planned? My dentist acts like she doesn’t know what to do about it now. I haven’t even started at home touch-ups yet. I feel like I wasted my money on Zoom because I probably won’t use it any more if it’s going to make my teeth whiter and whiter. Is this something my dentist is responsible for? Milisha
Milisha – Your dentist was correct in telling you that you should get Zoom whitening before your dental crowns were made. There are two possible reasons that your crowns are darker than your natural teeth.
- Your whitening sessions were not completed before your crowns were made. Zoom whitening sessions should be completed before preparing for crowns. This means that your teeth should be as white as you want them before crowns are requested from the dental lab. If any whitening sessions are done after the crowns are requested from the lab, your crowns will be too dark.
- The color of your teeth had not stabilized before the crowns were made. After your whitening sessions are complete, the color of your teeth needs to stabilize. This takes about two weeks. The color of your crowns shouldn’t be determined before then.
- Your dentist didn’t request the correct shade from the dental laboratory. It is possible that your dentist didn’t request the correct shade for your crowns. The ceramist at the dental laboratory makes your crown based on instructions from your dentist. It is also possible that a mistake on color was made at the lab.
Your dental records and the instructions that were sent to the lab can help determine where the mistake was made. But that’s not something you would be able to identify on your own. We suggest that you speak with your dentist and ask what went wrong. You should also ask for new crowns that match your natural teeth.
If you don’t get a positive response from your dentist, you can have your dental records transferred to an experienced cosmetic dentist for an evaluation and second opinion.
This post is sponsored by Bedminster, NJ dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.