Do I need to send a shade photo for every crown?

For posterior monolithic restorations in A2 or A3 with no complex stump shade, a well-completed Rx with a VITA shade tab selection is usually enough. The technician on your case can match within that range without a photo. Where it breaks down is when the adjacent teeth have internal characterization, tetracycline banding, or a translucency gradient that no written shade guide captures accurately. In those situations, no Rx note replaces a photo.

For anterior single-unit crowns and any case in the esthetic zone, a shade photo is not optional. Send one image with the shade tab placed at the same focal plane as the tooth, taken in natural light or a controlled operatory light at low intensity. A second photo without the tab, showing the full smile, adds useful context. Two images, 30 seconds of chair time, and the technician has what they need to match the adjacent teeth without a second try.

Dani Dental maintains a less than 2.5% remake rate across crown cases, and shade communication is one of the top three variables that moves that number in either direction. If you are unsure whether a particular case needs a photo, call the technician directly. Every case that ships from this lab includes the technician's direct line on the return paperwork. That call takes two minutes and saves a second impression appointment.