Dr. Dezham
Dr. Dezham is inspired by the desire to help you achieve optimal health and provide you with the absolute best that dentistry has to offer.
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2131 Capitol Ave
Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95816
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Archive:
- 2019
- March (6)
- Lady Gaga Wasn't "Born This Way?"
- 4 Common-Sense Tactics to Lower Tooth Decay Risk Between Dental Visits
- Dental Sealants can help Prevent Tooth Decay in Children
- The 3 Top Ingredients That Make Your Toothpaste a Super Plaque Buster
- Why Alfonso Ribeiro Is Grateful for Root Canal Treatment
- Catch Root Resorption Early for Best Chances of Saving Your Tooth
- February (5)
- National Children's Dental Health Month Highlights Importance of Baby Teeth
- Composite Resin Could Amp up Your Teeth's Attractiveness in Just One Visit
- Viggo Mortensen's Red-Carpet Smile
- Here's What you Need to Know about a Root Canal Treatment
- Topical Fluoride is a Safe Way to Protect Your Child's Teeth from Decay
- January (7)
- Attention to Detail Crucial to a Beautiful Smile Supported by Dental Implants
- Healthy Smiles for Alfonso Ribeiro and Family
- 3 Things You Might Notice with Your Child's Teeth That Need a Dentist
- A Bonded Retainer Could be a Preferred Choice over a Removable One
- Less-Invasive Pulp Capping Could Save Your Tooth
- Bobby Bones Dances His Way to Dental Damage
- A Root Canal Treatment can Save Your Tooth and Relieve Pain
- 2018
- December (6)
- Orthodontists Anticipate Future Facial Growth When Treating Poor Bites
- Bitewing X-Rays Safely 'Reveal all' About Back Teeth to Prevent Tooth Decay
- J-Lo's Unlucky Break: Chipping a Tooth on Stage
- Advanced Equipment and Safe Practices Ensure X-Ray Safety for Children
- Don't give up on Flossing!
- Wisdom Teeth Warrant Close Watch to Avoid Future Health Issues
- November (6)
- NBC Star Delivers a Message about the "Perfect" Smile
- Dentures are Still a Viable Choice for Tooth Replacement
- 4 Reasons Why You May Need to See a Periodontist for Your Gum Disease
- 4 Signs Your Child May Have a Poor Bite
- Steely Dan Founder's Death Highlights Importance of Early Cancer Detection
- Practice Caution with Energy or Sports Drinks to Protect Your Enamel
- October (6)
- Watch What Carbs You Eat to Reduce Your Risk of Further Gum Disease
- Stay Ahead of Plaque Buildup with Effective Brushing and Flossing
- Why Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Couldn't Have Braces
- What You Should Know About a Home Teeth Whitening Kit
- Inflammation: the Link Between Gum Disease and Cardiovascular Disease
- 3 Factors That Could Affect the Success of a Root Canal Treatment
- September (6)
- Dental Injury Is Just a Temporary Setback for Basketball Star Kevin Love
- Don't Wait - Seek Out Treatment for Gum Recession Now
- See Your Dentist if You're Having one of These 3 Dental Problems
- It's National Gum Care Month - Take Care of Your Gums
- Margot Robbie Knows: A Great Smile Is Worth Protecting
- Not all Dental Crowns Share the Same Quality of Life-Likeness
- August (6)
- Veneers may Offer a Less Invasive Way to Transform Your Smile
- Take Care of Your Dental Appliance and It Will Take Care of You
- A Different Kind of "Chip Shot" for Pro Golfer Danielle Kang
- Have Your Loose Tooth Examined as Soon as Possible
- 3 Reasons You Should Consider Tooth Whitening
- Pros and Cons for Flossing Before Brushing and Vice-Versa
- July (6)
- Noah Galloway's Dentally Dangerous Dancing
- Practice Proactive Prevention to Enhance Your Child's Dental Development
- Tips to Brighten Your Summer Smile
- Replacing a Back Tooth May Help You Avoid Future Dental Problems
- Any Time, Any Place: Cam Newton's Guide to Flossing
- 4 Important Facts About Gum Recession and What You can do About It
- May (7)
- Baseball's Francisco Lindor Shines as "Mr. Smile"
- Assessing Your Risk for Severe Gum Disease
- 4 Things You Should be Doing Now for Your Baby's Long-Term Dental Health
- What to Do For Mouth Injuries Your Child Might Encounter
- Neil Patrick Harris: What the Oscars Host Treasures Most
- Bone Loss at the Roots can Put Your Tooth in Danger of Loss
- Why we Need to Care for a Younger Patient's Bone after a Tooth Loss
- April (5)
- Topical Fluoride can Enhance Your Child's Dental Care
- Julianne Hough Shares a Video - and a Song - After Wisdom Teeth Come Out
- If You're not a Good Candidate for Dental Implants, Consider Bridgework
- Keep Your Smile Beautiful...in April and Beyond
- 3 Things You Need to Know about Easing Anxiety Over Dental Visits
- 2017
- June (5)
- Not All Bacteria are Harmful to Oral Health
- Fifth Harmony's Camila Cabello Chips a Tooth, but Concert Still "Worth It"
- Screw or Cement: Which is Best for Attaching Your Implant Crown?
- Teeth Grinding in Older Children and Adolescents a Cause for Concern
- Dealing with the Reality of Increased Disease Risk with Braces
- March (5)
- Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!
- Don't let Limited Finances Keep you From Needed Dental Care
- Antibiotics Before Implant Surgery Could Lower Infection Risk in Some People
- The Top 3 Oral Problems in America - and What You Should Do About Them
- How Kathy Bates Retains Her Movie-Star Smile
- 2016
- December (5)
- Transform Your Smile and Dental Health by Correcting Your Bad Bite
- Keep Ahead of Potential Sidetracks to Your Child's Oral Health
- Help 'De-Stress' Your Child's Dental Visits with these Tips
- Dwight Howard: A Bright NBA Star With a Smile to Match
- Non-Prescription Pain Medication can Manage Most Post-Procedure Discomfort
- September (5)
- 4 Things to Give Your Child a Head Start on Good Oral Health
- Treating "Burning Mouth" Depends on What's Triggering it
- Game, Set, Match: Milos Raonic Says A Mouthguard Helps Him Win
- Encourage Your Child to Stop Thumb Sucking by Age 4
- What's Causing Your Toothache? The Answer Determines Your Treatment
- July (5)
- Consult Your Dentist for Help with Diagnosing and Treating Sleep Apnea
- Master Illusionist Benefits from the Magic of Orthodontics
- Clear Aligners Reduce Risk for Developing Gum Disease Better than Braces
- Increase Bone Mass for Dental Implants through Grafting
- Teens Benefit Most from A Temporary Solution to Missing Teeth
- May (5)
- Dental Porcelain is a Great Option for Creating a Natural Appearance
- Even Celebrities Like Jennifer Lawrence Aren't Immune From Bad Breath!
- Home Whitening Kits are Safe and Effective, if Used the Right Way
- Root Canal Treatment Alleviates Pain and Saves Your Tooth
- Create a Strategy to Deal with Dental Problems to Avoid Future Expenses
- 2015
- January (5)
- It's an Art: Determining Tooth Color in Composite Resin Restorations
- Taking the Right Steps to Prevent Early Tooth Decay in Children
- Four Tips for Preventing Premature Loss of Baby Teeth From Tooth Decay
- Actress Florence Henderson Shares Her Secrets for Keeping Your Natural Teeth as You Age
- Test Your Knowledge: A Quiz on Dental Erosion
- 2014
Tags
- celebrity smiles (63)
- sleep apnea (2)
- dental implants (20)
- dentures (6)
- dental erosion (1)
- oral hygiene (31)
- oral health (19)
- pediatric dentistry (16)
- tooth decay (11)
- fillings (2)
- dental exam (1)
- orthodontics (10)
- retainers (3)
- gum disease (20)
- root canal (6)
- blood pressure medications (1)
- medicine (1)
- x-rays (2)
- removable partial denture (1)
- bridge (2)
- porcelain veneers (6)
- smile makeover (1)
- cosmetic dentistry (12)
- tmj disorders (3)
- tmd (2)
- tmj (1)
- root planing (1)
- laser dentistry (1)
- dental specialists (1)
- ulcers (1)
- canker sores (1)
- braces (11)
- crown lengthening (1)
- teeth whitening (9)
- birth control (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- palatal expander (2)
- orthodontic treatment (19)
- sedation dentistry (2)
- crowns (5)
- teeth wear (1)
- missing tooth (1)
- infection control (1)
- pediatric care (1)
- anchorage devices (1)
- antibiotics (1)
- dental sealants (2)
- thumb sucking (4)
- fluoride (2)
- wisdom teeth (4)
- implant overdentures (1)
- chewing tobacco (1)
- root canal treatment (5)
- bad breath (1)
- tooth replacement (2)
- bone grafting (3)
- clear aligners (2)
- snoring (1)
- trigeminal neuralgia (1)
- facial pain (1)
- toothache (3)
- mouthguards (3)
- burning mouth syndrome (1)
- chipped teeth (1)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- veneers (2)
- pain management (1)
- dental injuries (1)
- jaw pain (1)
- bonding (2)
- gum recession (3)
- mouthguard (1)
- dental injury (8)
- missing teeth (1)
- periodontal disease (3)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- teeth grinding (2)
- bruxism (1)
- chipped tooth (4)
- bacteria (1)
- pregnancy (1)
- interceptive orthodontics (1)
- saliva (1)
- space maintainer (1)
- dry mouth (1)
- tooth pain (1)
- nutrition (3)
- cleft lip (1)
- cleft palate (1)
- oral surgery (1)
- wedding day smile (1)
- tooth extraction (1)
- smoking (1)
- loose teeth (1)
- dental care (1)
- bridgework (1)
- topical fluoride (2)
- tooth loss (1)
- bone loss (1)
- bone graft (1)
- partial denture (1)
- dental emergency (1)
- loose tooth (1)
- retainer (1)
- sports drinks (1)
- oral cancer (1)
- flossing (1)
- x-ray (1)
- pulp capping (1)
- bonded retainer (1)
- composite resin (1)
- baby teeth (1)
- root resorption (1)
- eating disorder (1)
Categories:
It's an Art: Determining Tooth Color in Composite Resin Restorations
It takes a lot of skill, experience, talent and artistry to create tooth restorations that look so natural that no one can tell them apart from the originals. To do so requires understanding of the normal anatomy of a tooth as well as of the interactions of light and color.
How the anatomy of a tooth determines color
The color that we perceive when looking at a tooth results from the combined appearance of the tooth’s center core (dentin layer) and its covering enamel. Going from the outside in, the enamel is made of tightly packed crystals of calcium, which cause it to be one of the hardest substances naturally produced by animals. The crystals are also responsible for a tooth’s brilliance and translucence. The dentin is more like bone, a porous living tissue composed of microscopic tubes, interspersed with more calcium crystals. In the very center of the tooth is a central chamber containing the pulp and nerves.
Each of these layers has its own physical and optical properties. Since the enamel is translucent and the dentin is more opaque, most of the tooth’s color comes from the dentin and is transmitted through the enamel layer. Factors that affect this transmission include the thickness and age of the enamel as well as external tooth whitening.
If the enamel is more translucent, more of the color of the dentin shows through. If it is more opaque, the enamel absorbs and reflects light so that less color is visible and the enamel looks brighter.
The language of color composition and reflected light
Color means the whole spectrum in the rainbow. The spectrum is made up of the three primary colors — red, blue, and green. When all are combined, they create white light.
Hue refers to the brightest forms of the colors. The color we perceive depends on the dominant wavelength of light that is reflected by an object.
Value refers to a color’s lightness or darkness. A brighter color has a higher value.
Chroma is the amount of identifiable hue in a color. An achromatic color (without hue) appears gray.
Saturation is a measure of a color’s intensity.
This terminology of color is used not only by dentists and dental technicians, but also by a wide range of artists. It implies expertise and understanding of how colors work, how they vary and change and affect one another.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment or to discuss your questions about bonding to repair chipped teeth. You can also learn more by reading the Dear Doctor article, “Artistic Repair of Front Teeth with Composite Resin.”