27F Front tooth (#8) implant crown advice - currently waiting for my 5th attempt at a crown due to lab & dentist errors on top of normal trouble shade matching. Have been without a front tooth for 14 months now. Are they really doing everything they should to help me get the best result?
TL;DR - 1st pic is now, after 3 weeks in a custom tissue former to fix the gum contour. 2nd pic is the preceding attempt at a crown where the gum contour was off (+ the color wasn't great, especially at the top).
had #8 extracted in March 2025 and implant placed in July 2025, did not receive a crown until March 2026 due to lab and dentist errors + delays. Have been in an Essix retainer this whole time. I was supposed to get another temporary crown that would help shape the tissue but apparently the lab made it the complete opposite way (the top was essentially convex) so the dentist told me I had to do a custom tissue former + go back to the Essix again.
Went for a custom shade match at the lab after waiting the 3 weeks in the tissue former, but the lab didn't use special lighting. She truly just looked at the shades next to my teeth and took iPhone pics, so I am left wondering how that is supposed to yield a better result than the 4 previous attempts based on the pictures the dentist sent. Is this normal?
I am basically trying to figure out if I should be doing something else at this point.
- Does it seem like this is being handled appropriately?
- Should I go off on my own and find a cosmetic dentist to consult with? Would they even be able to do a better job or is this a lab issue?
I previously thought that this dentist would've referred me elsewhere if they didn't think they could get me a good result but maybe that isn't the case? They are absolutely losing money on this case since we have had to redo it so many times plus they didn't charge me for the abutment due to all of the delays and mistakes, so it doesn't feel like a money thing.