A process for making a dental restoration includes forming an image which represents a natural oral cavity characteristic. The image may be formed on a computer by an artist or by capturing a photograph of an oral cavity. The computer-based image may be modified with a computer-aided software program. Thereafter, the image is printed as a decal and attached to the dental restoration base. The decal and the dental restoration base are conditioned by a high intensity light or by being fired together in an oven in order to create a finished dental restoration having the desired oral cavity color and characteristics.