If you’ve ever had a root canal procedure to alleviate a toothache or had a severely decayed tooth that needed to be restored, your dentist likely placed a dental crown to protect it. These customized caps are cemented over injured or vulnerable teeth to improve their appearance and allow you to continue using them to eat and speak normally.
But you might worry something has gone horribly wrong if you notice a dark line at the base of your dental crown. Continue reading to learn more about why this sometimes happens and how your provider can help!
What Are Dental Crowns Made From?
Thanks to today’s dental technology and materials, many patients don’t realize that dental crowns haven’t always been made from tooth-colored ceramic. Historically, dental restorations were made from amalgam mixtures of metals, such as copper, silver, or tin, with liquid mercury as a bonding agent.
Although this material is durable enough to withstand the pressure of daily biting and chewing, it can also cause your teeth to appear darker. Plus, it doesn’t bond with your enamel and can even harm the structure of your tooth over time. Fortunately, today most dentists use durable ceramic that can be customized to match the shade, size, and shape of your pearly white for realistic results.
Why Is There A Black Line at the Base of My Dental Crown?
Depending on your unique circumstances, such as having a molar that requires repair, your dentist might provide a prosthetic made from porcelain-fused-to-metal. This option typically features a metallic base covered with porcelain, combining resilience with a lifelike appearance. However, over time, the ceramic can start to wear down, especially at the base of your crown where it’s thinnest, allowing the darker metallic material to shine through.
Whether your restoration is outdated or was intended to have a metal base, if you’re starting to see a dark line, it could mean that it’s nearing the end of its lifespan.
How Do I Know It’s Time to Get a New Dental Crown?
These tooth-shaped caps are built to endure the ongoing pressure of daily usage, and can remain in good shape for 5 to 10+ years if cared for correctly. However, they’re not invincible, and eventually wear down over time. If you notice that it feels unstable or wiggles in place, has visible chips or cracks, is discolored or has a dark line at the base, or is noticeably worn down or broken, it may be time to contact your dentist for a replacement.
Your provider can examine your mouth and take X-rays to monitor the tooth under your crown and verify whether it’s time for a new restoration.
Meet the Author
Patients at Transforming Smiles benefit from two dentists who share decades of combined experience. Today, Dr. Zafrani and Dr. Carter collaborate to offer a comprehensive menu of services that help families in Lawrenceville build and maintain beautiful, healthy smiles, including tooth-colored restorations such as dental crowns. Their caring approach is combined with state-of-the-art technology to improve patient comfort and provide reliable results you can trust. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (770) 995-7616.