Black Lined: Your Dental Crown Could Reveal More Than You Want

When you first meet someone new, you don’t need to tell them everything about you right away. Some things they can learn with time and trust, but some secrets they never need to know. When it comes to your smile, it should be friendly and warm, but it doesn’t need to reveal its past to everyone who sees it.

If a black line starts to show around your dental crown, you might as well be holding a sign that says in bold letters, “One of my teeth has a prosthetic.” You probably don’t want to advertise that! To more fully understand how this happens and how to avoid it, keep reading the content below.

The Reason for This Black Line

If you see a black line forming around the gumline of your dental crown, the issue becomes obvious: your dental crown has metal in it, and it is showing. In certain cases, such as for a molar that needs extra strength, a crown may consist of porcelain fused to metal, which has a dark silvery material at the base. Usually the gum tissue covers this metallic area, but it can become exposed as a result of one of these causes:

Gum Recession

With age, harsh brushing, or gum disease, gums can start to pull back from your teeth, revealing the roots or, in this case, the metallic base of your crown. In this situation, it’s best to work closely with your dentist to identify the cause of your gum recession and possible treatments that can help your appearance.

Problem with Crown Fit

Ideally, each dental crown is fabricated specifically for one tooth. As a result, it should fit properly and be sized correctly. However, traditional dental impressions can be inaccurate, resulting in a dental crown that doesn’t fit like it should. Fortunately, dentists who use a digital impression system can avoid this possibility.

Solutions for a Black Line Around Your Dental Crown

To correct a black line appearing at the base of your dental crown and sharing your secret with everyone who sees your smile, you and your dentist may need to take these measures:

• Gum disease treatment, which can get rid of inflammatory bacteria causing recession.
• Gum graft, for more advanced cases of recession.
• Lighter brushing at home, which can prevent pushing gums back further.
• New dental crown, which may involve taking new impressions.
• Metal-free crowns, which eliminate the problem entirely!

In the end, although having a black line around your dental crown can reveal more than you want, there are ways you can address the issue and have a smile that communicates just the right amount.

About the Practice

Husband-and-wife team Dr. Eric Marsh and Dr. Michelle Pisano-Marsh have been practicing for more than 7 years together, but each has about 30 years of clinical experience in the field. To make sure we capture accurate impressions, our team takes advantage of cutting-edge technology with digital impressions. Instead of using putty, our advanced device quickly scans the upper and lower arches and creates a 3D model on the screen within minutes. If you have concerns about your crowns, contact our Allentown practice online or call 610-432-8037.