Thanks so much. I will try to be brief, but appreciate any advice on what you guys think is THE best colour for as natural looking a white shade as possible. I appreciate it is a very personal decision - but I am going round and round in circles here and I just need to stop, and look at the facts.
Two years ago I had a full upper reconstruction. I am ashamed to say I did not take particularly good care of my teeth as a child, I was never taught how to from a young age, and even had a mother who would give me sweets at bedtime. Anyway - at least at the age of 50, I now live in an age where dentures are not the only option. My lower teeth apart from two rear fillings are in perfect condition.
I had a lot of work done. Two onlays, three implants, and four old crowns replaced (all in place since the 80's with metal cores - I must have had them replaced three times in all, but they were still over vital teeth) I also had a bridge which needed replaced; missing upper left lateral attached to a cuspid which was root canalled. I am missing the canine on this side, as this was removed as a teenager due to bad overlap so the main tooth of this bridge was made to look like a canine.
My own teeth have always been quite white, B1 according to my dentist, but I wanted them lighter as my sister (who despite our mother has all her own teeth) had bleached hers and they made her look so youthful. So I chose BL2 for the uppers, and we started lightening my lowers. they never got beyond B1, and I had to stop because of receding gums and zingers.
My temporary was one of those one piece things, and it was (apparently) made in acrylic BL2, but the colour completely matched my lower teeth. I was surprised at this I as I knew my lower teeth were B1 but, hey, the temp teeth looked fabulous, so was looking forward to getting the perms.
So. The Perms turned out to be very very white, and were also much longer than the temps. Also the canines were huge - bulky and pointy. I was so disappointed, and told my dentist so. So, he recontoured the teeth, which was not ideal, as he shaved off all the translucent ridged edges that made them look so real. They also looked so much whiter than my lower teeth that they looked false and unatural.
Can you believe after paying almost 12,000 British pounds for this makeover, I was too embarrassed to smile as I thought my teeth were too white? However, I got used to them, and it was only in bright light or daylight that I saw how toilet bowl white they were.
Fast forward two years, and the bridge has snapped off. The dentist explained it was a because it was two biting teeth attached to a root canalled and brittle bicuspid. If it had been a canine, it would have been fine. Why he did not take this into consideration two years ago I don't know. So, I have another implant, and am wearing a partial flipper instead of the bridge, and ....oh joy of joys, a front central breaks off.
back to the dentist in time to get all the new teeth made at the same time. We have decided that the best thing to do is to go ahead with the bridge as planned, and use the central implant, and the lateral implant, to bridge the now missing central.
Dentist is covering the costs. *whew*
So I think, I now have the perfect opportunity to change the colour. I discuss it with the dentist, who tells me to go 'down' from a BL2 to B1 would make me unhappy in the long run. he thinks I have a beautiful smile and the colour suits me. I figure as I can only get older, toilet bowl teeth are probably not a good idea. I come home, discuss it with my husband - and he says he LOVES the colour of my teeth. I ask for honest opinions from friends and my sister... I tell them they really can tell me the brutal truth without hurting my feelings, as these are coming out whatever happens, and it is 50/50 for and against.
I know I sound like a vain person - I guess I am a little. I just want to get it right this time, and I just cannot make up my mind. Sorry to go on so long for such a short question....
...what colour do YOU think is the most natural, for a 50 year old lady who would like to have a bright smile but not look overwhelmingly white. Is there a shade between, or is it possible to combine shades? Will I miss my bright whites if I go back to ordinary white?
Many many thanks for listening.
to Paul's advice...and your dentist's.
