Dental crowns have improved significantly over recent decades, and the new models are virtually indistinguishable from real teeth. However, some older types of dental crowns can start giving themselves away as they begin to show their age. Here’s why porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns can develop a thin black line around their base and what you can do to keep your smile looking its best.
Why Is a Black Line Showing Under My Dental Crown?
For a long time, crowns would be made completely from metals like gold or silver. These appliances had a lot of issues with appearance and comfort, so more recently, porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns were invented. These crowns look like real teeth by having a porcelain shell fused to a metal base, but over time the metal base can begin to show from under the porcelain. This results in an unsightly thin black line showing through underneath the dental crown.
How Can I Fix This Thin Black Line?
If your crown is showing a thin black line underneath it, the best way to have your teeth looking great again is to replace it with an all-ceramic tooth-colored crown. This will provide you with a lifelike restoration that will stay looking great as it ages. You won’t have to worry about it developing a thin black line that will reveal your dental work to strangers. It is also extremely resistant to stains and contains no metal, making it great for people with metal sensitivities.
How Are Ceramic Crowns Placed?
A new dental crown can be placed in as few as two appointments. Your dentist will take measurements of your tooth and send the recorded information to a dental laboratory. There, a skilled technician will manufacture a new all-ceramic crown exactly to your dentist’s specifications. Your crown will be sent to your dentist’s office, and you will arrive for a follow-up appointment so it can be cemented into place.
A dental crown should protect your tooth and look great at the same time. Consulting with your dentist can determine if ceramic crowns are a suitable option for you.
About the Author
Dr. Charles A. Parker earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and has practiced general dentistry in Marshall since 1981. He is a member of the American Dental Association and the East Texas Dental Society. His office in Marshall, TX offers general, cosmetic, emergency, and restorative dentistry such as dental crown treatments. For more information on replacing your old crowns with ceramic ones, contact his office online or dial (903) 935-6351.