Dental crowns are a common dental restoration that can protect weak teeth, restore broken teeth, support a tooth that has a large filling, hold a dental bridge in place, or cover a dental implant. By improving the size, strength, and appearance of a tooth, it can improve one’s quality of life. Seeing a dark line around the base of your crown may be concerning at first, but it’s actually just metal that is visible through porcelain. Your dentist in Hurst can tell you the reason this occurs, and what you can do to fix it.
Why is There a Dark Line Around My Dental Crown?
The dark line you see is associated with an old porcelain dental crown, or a fuse-to-metal dental crown. These types of crowns use tooth-colored porcelain on the outside and metal underneath for extra strength. Light can shine through natural teeth; however, it cannot get through the metal frame on the inside of your crown. A very thin edge of the metal can be visible where it meets the porcelain. Dentists often made an effort to hide this line underneath the gums, but if they recede, it is exposed. Sometimes, it even shows through the gumline. Today, new technologies in the field of dentistry allow dentists to resolve this issue by using materials other than metal. It’s now possible to construct certain types of ceramic crowns, which don’t display a dark line.How Can My Dentist Help?
The only way to eliminate this line is to have your crown replaced. Your dentist can use a ceramic material that can make the tooth look more natural and contain no black lines. For example, your dentist could use solid porcelain material instead of porcelain over a metal framework. Porcelain is very strong and is used for a variety of dental treatments.How Do Solid Porcelain Crowns Compare to Fuse-to-Metal Crowns?
- Appearance: Going by looks alone, there is no doubt that all-porcelain crowns appear more natural than the crowns that contain metal. They are handcrafted by a dental technician and are created to look just like a real tooth. There is no risk of developing a dark line at the base.
- Durability: Both types of crown are very strong. Fuse-to-metal crowns have historically been more durable, but solid porcelain crowns have come a long way and are just as effective.
- Longevity: Both options last an average of 10-15 years. With proper care, they can last even longer. Bad habits like ice chewing, teeth grinding, and frequently eating hard foods can shorten the life of any crown.
