The best way to ensure a natural-looking crown is to take lots of photographs during the documentation phase. These photographs are useful to communicate all aspects of what your other natural teeth look like to the dental lab technician who is the one making the crown for you.
Standardised polarised photography (for example, the e.Lab system) can help to make this process more predictable.
The main features of lifelike crowns are:
- How light/dark the crown appears compared to your own natural tooth
- The surface texture of the crown compared to your own natural tooth
- How much glaze is used to coat the crown surface: excessive glazing can result in a very shiny crown which can look artificial
- Internal characteristics required to blend in with adjacent natural teeth
A good technician will understand how to best match a natural tooth but it can be very challenging to get a perfect match. Good or really expert-level technicians do not come cheap, and this will be reflected in the fee for your crown.
You should be prepared for multiple try-ins of the crown to get the best final result possible.
