Tag Archives: gray line at gumline

Why Is My Porcelain Veneer Staining My Tooth?

I don’t know what’s going on with my porcelain veneer. I had a large chip on a tooth on a front tooth. My dentist fixed it with a porcelain veneer a few years ago. For some reason it’s developed a black stain at the top near the gumline. What can I do to fix that? It’s a little embarrassing.

Wesley C.

Dear Wesley,

There are a couple of possibilities going on here. To determine which, we’ll need to be certain what you have is actually a porcelain veneer. A porcelain veneer is just placed on the front of your tooth. Very little is done to the actual tooth with the exception of some mild shaving. It’s possible your dentist placed a dental crown instead. For these, your teeth need to be ground down quite a bit, to a nub. Then a restoration is made that surrounds the entire tooth.

If you have a dental crown, based on what you’ve said your dentist likely gave you a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown (PFM). Though, for the life of me I can’t fathom why any decent cosmetic dentist would place a metal-based crown on a front tooth. The appropriate crown for a front tooth would be an all-porcelain crown. The metal-based crowns eventually develop a gray line at the gumline. You’ve only had your restoration a few years. That seems a little soon for the gray line to develop unless you have gum disease or possibly if you brush too hard.

If you do have a porcelain veneer, this shouldn’t be happening at all. It’s a sign your dentist didn’t bond it correctly. It should sit flush with your tooth. If your dentist doesn’t properly smooth it out they’ll be a ledge which can trap bacteria. Another possibility is the bond is so week things are getting between the veneer and the tooth. Both of these will lead to staining and, eventually, decay.

The solution to either of these is it needs to be replaced. If the problem is a crown, you’ll want to replace it with an all-porcelain crown. If it’s a veneer, your dentist should replace it free of charge. The mistake was his.

You may have to get a second opinion from someone who isn’t your dentist to get an honest answer.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

Can I Switch My Metal Crowns with Porcelain Veneers?

I’ve got four metal-based crowns. I’ve never been thrilled with them. They’ve always looked more cloudy than my natural teeth, but it was better than no teeth. Lately, though, there’s been this dark line at my gumline. It’s making it impossible for me to smile without feeling humiliated. I’ve started avoiding going out in public. Last night, I saw an article about porcelain veneers. The pictures were stunning. First, are they really that gorgeous or was that clever photoshopping? Second, can I switch out my metal-based crowns with porcelain veneers?

Millie M. – Indiana

Millie,

No one should be embarrassed to smile. With that said, I don’t want you to feel alone. There are many people (Americans especially) who are unhappy with some aspect of their smile. We want perfection. Cloudy teeth you can maybe get away with. It’s not ideal, but it’s not necessarily distracting or ugly. A gray line at your gumline is both distracting and ugly. I understand your desire to make a switch.

Porcelain veneers really can be that stunning. Whether they are or not depends on the skill of the cosmetic dentist. A skilled, artistic cosmetic dentist can give you a gorgeous smile. Toward that end, I have good news and bad news regarding switching out your crowns with veneers.

First, the bad news. You cannot. It doesn’t matter what type of crown it is. The reason is the structural difference between the two treatments. Porcelain veneers bond to the very front of the teeth. Hardly any tooth structure is removed to place them. Dental crowns, on the other hand, fit over the entirety of your teeth, which requires grinding down a large amount of tooth structure. Because of that, there’s not enough tooth left for the veneers to be bonded to.

Now for the good news. You can still replace these ugly crowns and get a gorgeous smile. Instead of replacing your metal-based crowns with porcelain veneers, you can replace them with all-porcelain crowns. These can be created just as beautifully as porcelain veneers. Unlike their metal-based relations, all-porcelain crowns will not look cloudy. It’s the base that makes which makes that necessary in order to hide the metal. Also, you’ll never have to worry about them developing that unsightly gray line.

The key will be the dentist. The get the best results, look for an AACD accredited dentist. Accreditation is different than membership. You can purchase membership. Accreditation is earned by demonstrating proficiency in both technical skill and artistry.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.

My Dentist Wants to Put A Metal Crown On My Tooth

I’m not sure if I should go forward with something my dentist wants to do. I need a crown. But, he wants to put a metal based crown on the tooth. My mother had one of those and it was horribly ugly. Would mine be ugly too or have their been more developments since then?

Ally R. – Idaho

Ally,

I haven’t seen your mother’s crown, nor do I know when she had it placed, so it would be hard for me to tell you if there have been advancements. However, I can tell you that cosmetic dentists (who care as much about form as they do function) would not put a metal based crown on a front tooth.

The reason for that is the appearance, as you’ve noted about your mother’s old crown. A metal based crown requires a more opaque layering in order to “cover” the metal. Plus, you will eventually develop a gray line at your gumline, which will be unattractive and distracting.

Instead, I’d recommend an all-porcelain crown. These are perfectly strong enough to be placed on your front teeth, and are much more attractive.

That being said, you’ll need to have a good cosmetic dentist to do it. Even the most beautiful materials need artistic hands to make their beauty shine.  Especially because it is a front teeth you’re talking about, I cannot stress how much the skill of the cosmetic dentist will make a difference on how the crown will look.

The best cosmetic dentists are accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD).

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.