porcelain-fused-to-metal 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.

My two front teeth needed crowns. So the dentist took a lot of time trying to match the crowns up to blend in with the teeth immediately around them. So he was super cautious asking me for my input throughout the process and we both agreed they looked great during the try-on portion of the appointment. But when he cemented them in, I was shocked when I smiled in the mirror. They look gray! When I told the dentist, he informed me that it was probably just the lighting. He said it shouldn’t be any different than what we saw during try-on because the permanent cement is transparent. Am I crazy? What do I do?

-Beth in Illinois

Beth,

Sorry to hear you are feeling unhappy with the color of your porcelain crowns. It sounds like your dentist was making ever effort to be proactive in matching them up with your surrounding teeth. There is one question that comes to mind – were the crowns dry when you signed off on them? Or was there a try-in paste that was used so you could see them?

It is possible that the paste may have provided a different color if it was used to place the crowns in temporarily. Now if the crowns were placed over the teeth and were dry, then they don’t show any color beneath because the underlying color of the tooth wouldn’t show. When the bonding takes place, the underlying tooth would be visible. Any discoloration or staining would show through. Now, it was assumed that these were all-porcelain crowns since they were on front teeth. If they were indeed porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, then the metal used in the construction of the crown may show through it. It is possible that is what the gray color your are experiencing. Most excellent cosmetic dentists would not use porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.

The other issue may be along the lines of what your dentist was explaining where lighting influences the color interpretation. Porcelain may appear different under day light, natural light, or even fluorescent light. That said, the bonding agents should not change colors in the curing process and should not affect the end result. So there is something strange going on here.

Give it a few days. It may just be strange to see the new teeth as they are and if it is consistent on both your teeth, then maybe it will all work out okay. Otherwise, if you can’t get pass it, make a point to diplomatically explain to your dentist why it is unacceptable. It sounds like this may end up being a learning experience for him and should be done free of charge. Good luck and thank you for your question.

What’s wrong with my porcelain veneer?

My crowns are a different color from how they looked during the try-on.