Dark Lines? Lighten Up!

When you’re thrilled with the healthy, bright smile you once achieved with dental crowns and veneers, the last thing you want to see is anything creeping in and taking away from the sparkle.

Unfortunately, dark lines that form around dental restorations can do just that. This disappointing discoloration can form around porcelain restorations for a few reasons. While disheartening, the good news is that they are not always a sign of any dangers to your health, and they can be prevented and reversed.

 

So where do those black lines come from?

Seeing black lines around your porcelain restorations might make your mouth feel dirty, despite your every effort to maintain a consistent hygiene routine. But hygiene doesn’t have anything to do with it. Understanding where the dark lines come from will help you take action to prevent them from forming in the first place.

Dark stains around restorations typically come from porcelain fused to metal (PFM), the use of low quality, non-precious metals, and ill-fitting restorations—all of which are preventable and reversible under the care of Dr. Sraon. Let’s explore these causes:

• If you’ve had a crown or veneers for a long time, there’s a chance the dentist who did the procedure fused them on a metal base. While a metal base does provide added strength and fracture-resistance, it can also cause discoloration as time goes on. By design, the porcelain of a crown gets thinner as it nears the gum line and the metal base. Because gum lines recede over time, the dark metal part of the crown closest to the gum can begin to show.
• If your crown was originally placed a long time ago, there’s a chance it was fused to low quality metal—like tin—that was not designed to last forever. Non-precious metals tend to give off dark color as they wear down, which ends up staining the edges of the gum line. Some low quality metals are also known to irritate the gums, which can cause inflammation and even discoloration from the inside out.
• If a crown was placed before certain technology was widely used, it may not fit as perfectly as it should. If a crown is not perfectly sealed, or does not cover the tooth completely, stains can form at the points of exposure. Staining along the edge of your crown in this situation is a sign that the tooth underneath might be exposed to bacteria, plaque, and may eventually succumb to decay and infection, which cannot be reversed by simply replacing your crown.

 

No matter the cause of the dark lines around your crowns or veneers, Dr. Sraon has solutions that will bring back the bright white porcelain restorations you and your mouth deserve. Our office offers services that will remove the unsightly black lines from around your crowns or veneers. They include replacing porcelain fused to metal crowns or old crowns with new porcelain crowns, removing and replacing old dental veneers, and covering exposed crowns along the gum line with a bonding procedure.

If you come to the office to get a new crown or veneers, we will take every precaution to ensure you will not experience dark lines in the future. To start, we use modern porcelain crowns which don’t require being fused to metal. The crowns and veneers we use are made of the highest quality porcelain and are stronger and more reliable than the traditional options.

We also use the most advanced placement methods to make sure that your crown or veneers fit perfectly over your existing teeth. A perfect fit eliminates the possibility of bacteria accumulation, staining, and infection, all of which may cause discoloration. The end result is an extremely close match to your original teeth, or the teeth you’ve always dreamed of.

If you’re ready to get rid of embarrassing dark lines around your porcelain crowns or veneers, or if you’re in need of new dental restorations, don’t hesitate to give us a call to schedule a consultation. We look forward to providing you with the bright-white and healthy smile you’ve been hoping for!