Dentures question?

Recently a dentist recommended that my friend get dentures. The dentist recommended a color and they ended up looking yellow. She was very upset and complained to the dentist that she did not like the color. The dentist told her she could fix them but if they went whiter they wouldn't look natural. Now she is worried about getting them whiter cause she doesn't want them to look bad, but she really hates the yellow coloring she has. ( BTW she doesn't smoke) I told her that I thnk with everyone getting teeth whitening nowadays she could just pass them off as being whitened. What do you all think?

Dentures question?
With full dentures, I say the patient is in charge! You are not trying to match one tooth so that it blends in with all the rest, so go for whatever shade you want.





If I think it is just crazy, I might express that opinion, but it is ultimately the patient's decision.





Now... I don't know how your friend and the dentist will resolve the color issue. There should have been a "try in" visit when the denture was set up in wax. It was at this visit that the patient could have said that the color was too yellow and the change could have been made for free. If your friend stated that the color was not good at THAT visit and the dentist said it would be okay, I hope that the dentist is willing to admit it and will eat the lab cost for remaking the new dentures. If your friend said that the color was okay, then it's going to be tough to have them redone for a reduced fee.
Reply:There are MANY (20-30) shades of teeth to choose from, maybe there is something in between. In the end, it is the patients self image that matters. Too white or too yellow, she won't smile at all if she doesn't like them...and that would be both unnatural and most unfortunate. Maybe you could go with her to the dentist and give support and another opinion.
Reply:As Sam says, there should have been a try-in stage. Sometimes I let my patients take the try-in home to show family and friends to get their reactions re the colour.


However, always give the patients what they want or they'll never be happy. I just make careful notes in their records to cover myself.
Reply:I agree with the docs. I am a denture tech and there are many shades of teeth to choose from. As well as different colors of the "gum" material that can be used. The dentist should have had a shade chart to show your friend different shades that she could choose from, instead of picking one out for her. It's not the dentist that has to look at her smile every day and not be happy with the color of her teeth. HOpefully the doc will eat teh cost and have the denture remade. Afterall...your friend is probably paying good money for her denture