porcelain-fused-to-metal crown Archives

I ended up getting a porcelain veneer done to fix my damaged front tooth. At first, I really liked it. It blended in perfectly with my surrounding teeth. No one seemed to notice I had any work done. I am wondering what’s wrong with it now? It has only been a couple years and I’m noticing a really dark line along my gums. Should I be concerned? I am starting to feel self conscious when I’m laughing and smiling. Do you know what happened?

-Pam in Missouri

Pam,

From what you have described, it actually doesn’t sound like you have a porcelain veneer. It is more likely that you have a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown. A porcelain veneer is a very thin layer of porcelain that is bonded to the front of a tooth. Typically, a porcelain veneers are used to improve the aesthetics of teeth. For example, minor gaps, discoloration and small chips can be addressed with porcelain veneers. But, a dental crown is used when a tooth is more severely damaged. For example, if a tooth is cracked or chipped, has too large of a cavity to fill or needs to be reinforced structurally, a crown is more effective. A porcelain crown covers the entire tooth, kind of like a cap.

When the framework is made of metal, the gums can recede over time and the metal is visible. That said, a couple years seems like a short time for the metal to be exposed. It is possible you may need to be checked out to rule out any other conditions, like gum disease. That way, the cause can be taken care of before the crown is redone.

Now, this is all based on assumption from what you have explained. It is possible that you did get a porcelain veneer. If so, it doesn’t sound like it was done properly. Or, the cosmetic dentistry may have been done by a dentist that didn’t have the proper expertise and training.

There have been cases where bacteria creeps into the gumline area with porcelain veneers that were not placed seamlessly. If this is indeed the case, you will need to have be seen for a professional exam and cleaning. If bacteria is gathering along the gums, decay will become an issue if it hasn’t already and the bond that holds the veneer in place may be compromised.

Thank you for your question. Hopefully this will give you some guidance as to what your next steps should be.

So I had a crown done awhile ago now. My regular family dentist did the work. I was using a bright flashlight the other night to get a good look at my teeth. And when I shined the light on my crown it appeared transparent. I noticed a little bit of black right around my gums. What is that? Should I have gone to a cosmetic dentist to have the crown done in the first place? I don’t like the way it looks.

– Michelle in Nebraska

Michelle,

Based on what you have described, the crown you have in your mouth sounds like it is a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown. It doesn’t mean that your dentist did anything wrong or that anything is wrong with the functionality of the tooth. That said, a cosmetic dentist places a much higher emphasis on the aesthetics of dentistry. So an excellent cosmetic dentist may have recommended an all porcelain crown.

Some dentists still prefer to use porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns on back molars because the metal structure provides a strong foundation for back teeth. These types of crowns hold up well from a structural standpoint and can withstand extreme biting force. But with the advances in bonding technologies today, many cosmetic dentists are confident that all porcelain crowns will hold up just find on molars. Anyway, the black that is beginning to appear at your gumline is the metal showing through the porcelain. Or if you had a root canal on the tooth, the tooth can appear darker than normal because there is no longer blood circulating to that tooth.

For future reference, you may be interested in learning more about CEREC crowns. These days are also known as same day crowns, because all of the work is done in one visit. That means you don’t have to wear an uncomfortable temporary.

It is still not a bad idea to get into your dentist to have it looked out so the possibility of any tooth decay can be ruled out. Again, it sounds like the metal that is visible, but better to be safe than sorry. Lastly, if this is a indeed a front tooth that you are referring to, then a cosmetic dentist may be the way to go. They care much more about how the end result will look. And all porcelain will look so beautiful that no one will no you had any work done. Good luck!

What’s wrong with my porcelain veneer?

Why do I have a black line around my crown?