Dental crowns are a reliable, versatile restoration that can restore both the function and appearance of damaged teeth. However, if you have a porcelain fused to metal crown, you may have noticed a dark line developing amidst your pearly whites. While this is a common cosmetic issue for this type of dental crown, it can be corrected with the latest dental materials and technology. Read on to learn what’s causing that black line around your dental crown and what you can do to restore your beautiful smile!
What’s Causing the Black Line Around My Dental Crown?
Porcelain fused to metal dental crowns are designed to offer a compromise between aesthetics and strength. While the inner shell of the crown is crafted from durable metal, the visible outer layer is made from natural-looking dental porcelain. However, the rim of these dental crowns isn’t covered in porcelain, leaving a line of shiny metal exposed.
When initially placed, the thin line of metal is hidden underneath the gum tissue. However, as the gums recede over time and reveal the base of the dental crown, your tooth may look like it has darkened around the gums. The black line around your dental crown is the metal rim becoming noticeable.
What Can I Do About the Black Line Around My Dental Crown?
Typically, the best way to fix this cosmetic issue is to have the crown replaced with a new all-ceramic dental crown. These restorations don’t contain any metal at all. Instead, they’re crafted out of a single piece of dental porcelain for the most lifelike results that don’t compromise durability. Your dentist can remove your old dental crown, take impressions of your tooth, and create a custom-made ceramic crown to replace it with. If they have a CEREC machine, they’ll even be able to accomplish this in a single appointment!
What Are the Benefits of All-Ceramic Dental Crowns?
Even if your porcelain fused to metal crown hasn’t begun to develop a black line around it yet, you may want to have it replaced with an all-ceramic crown preemptively. These modern restorations offer a variety of advantages, including:
- Unmatched beautiful appearance: Not only can porcelain fused to metal crowns lead to black lines on the teeth, but their metal base often shines through the somewhat opaque porcelain and dulls its color. All ceramic dental crowns are incredibly lifelike and can be customized to match the color, shape, and size of the rest of your teeth.
- Biocompatible and safe for sensitive smiles: A crown that is crafted from biocompatible dental ceramic and porcelain can encourage the gums to grow back around the tooth. They’re also an excellent choice for those who have metal allergies or sensitivities.
- Long-lasting results: Thanks to their precise design and high-quality materials, all-ceramic crowns are resistant to breakage and can easily last 15 years or more.
Your dental crown should seamlessly restore your smile’s appearance and function, not cause embarrassing black lines! Call your Superior dentist today to replace your old restoration with a new, beautiful all-ceramic dental crown!
About the Practice
At Hill Avenue Dental, we’re committed to helping the smiles of Superior, WI look and feel their best for a lifetime. Our office is outfitted with a state-of-the-art CEREC machine to provide same-day dental crowns that save our patients time and money. We regularly replace metal and porcelain fused to metal dental crowns with beautiful and reliable all-ceramic ones, so feel free to contact us if you’re ready to make the switch. If you’d like to learn more, we can be contacted via our website or at (715) 392-5161.