Managing the challenge of crowning the single central maxillary incisor.

Esthetic restorative dentistry presents multiple challenges for the restorative team. One of the most significant challenges is achieving an accurate match of a single maxillary central incisor crown. This procedure may very well be one of the most critical procedures in esthetic restorative dentistry. Accurate shade selection and shade matching are a paramount step for achieving a natural blending of the restoration with the adjacent dentition and the supporting tissues. Clinicians and dental ceramists have been using multiple methods (including photos with shade guides, photos with customized shade tabs, computerized shade matching devices, and visits of the patient to the ceramist’s office) to try and facilitate shade communication as well as an accurate reproduction of a restoration that generally mirrors the adjacent maxillary central incisor.