Multi-Faceted Treatment for Patient Unhappy With Her Artificial-Looking Crowns, Teeth and Gums

Multiple Problems Affecting Smile Aesthetics

Many patients come to Elite Prosthetic Dentistry unhappy with the appearance of their smile. However, this particular patient presented with multiple interconnected problems that together created a smile she found deeply unsatisfying. The complexity of her situation required a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to achieve natural-looking results.

This patient was very unhappy with how her teeth and gums were impacting her overall smile and, therefore, her appearance and confidence. But her problems were not just about the teeth themselves, they involved gum tissue, tooth position, and the quality of previous restorations.

Identifying the Specific Problems

During her consultation, Dr. Marlin identified multiple distinct problems that would all need to be addressed to create the smile she deserved.

The first significant problem was that she had poor-quality dental crowns on her two front teeth. These crowns were very wide, square, and unnatural in appearance. They were fabricated from an overly opaque white material that contrasted dramatically with her darker gingiva and complexion. The crowns did not match her natural adjacent teeth in terms of color, translucency, or shape. This mismatch made the restorations appear artificial and called attention to themselves rather than looking like natural teeth.

The second problem was that the patient was missing her lateral incisor tooth, which should be positioned between her two front teeth. To compensate for this missing tooth, her left canine, a much larger tooth by nature, was positioned in the space where the lateral incisor should have been. This created an awkward tooth arrangement that looked unnatural.

The third problem involved gum tissue proportion and evenness. The patient’s gum tissue was uneven across her smile. The tissue was too low around her right canine and lateral incisor area, showing an unsightly gap between her two front teeth. On the left side, the gum tissue was positioned much higher than on the right, creating a visually unbalanced appearance to her smile.

The Comprehensive Treatment Plan

Improving this patient’s smile required multiple coordinated treatment steps. The first step involved orthodontic treatment to move her large canine out of the position where her missing lateral incisor should be located. This orthodontic phase repositioned her teeth into a more natural and balanced arrangement.

Once her orthodontic treatment was complete, the team was able to restore her missing lateral incisor with a strategically placed dental implant. The implant was positioned precisely to provide optimal support for a custom crown that would match her natural teeth perfectly.

Simultaneously, the team replaced the opaque, artificial-looking crowns on her two front teeth with natural-looking ones that had appropriate translucency and internal coloration. These new crowns were carefully shade-matched and designed to reflect light in the same way natural teeth do, creating a seamless blend with her smile.

Gum Tissue Contouring for Balance

The team also provided minor gingival surgery to even out her gum tissue. This involved carefully removing excess tissue in areas where it was too low and reshaping the tissue line to create an even, symmetrical appearance across her entire smile. The goal was to ensure that the gum tissue framed her teeth properly and created a naturally balanced appearance.

Results: A Completely Natural-Looking Smile

Upon completion of the comprehensive treatment, this patient achieved a completely natural-looking smile with precision-made dental crowns and restorations that will provide both beauty and function for many years to come. The combination of orthodontics, implant restoration, crown therapy, and gingival contouring created a smile that she could finally be proud of.

Comprehensive Smile Restoration at Elite Prosthetic Dentistry

If you are unhappy with your smile for any reason, whether due to artificial-looking crowns, missing teeth, uneven gum tissue, or any other concern, Dr. Gerald Marlin and his team have the expertise to address complex cases comprehensively. Contact us today at 202-244-2101 to schedule your consultation about smile restoration.