Without more information it is difficult to say for sure what is causing the black line on your Lava crowns. One thing that comes to mind is that the Lava Crown is often considered in the category of Porcelain crowns. There are many materials that a dentist can select from when doing a Porcelain crown. Lava crowns consist of Zirconium, which is actually a white metal. This is important because metal does not allow light to shine through the crown to the underlying tooth structure. This then often creates a dark looking tooth structure (black line). Using a porcelain material that is translucent and will allow light to shine through can often eliminate the black line from occurring. This is just one reason that I thought may be causing the dark line on your crowns. There are many others that can also be contributing to it. I would recommend consulting with your treating dentist and allow him/her to evaluate it.
Placing a single crown on a front tooth of patient is one of the more challenging procedures for a dentist. You want to make sure that you select a skilled cosmetic dentist who works with an experienced cosmetic dental lab. There is nothing more disappointing for both the patient and the dentist to see a crown that does not match in the smile zone. There are many choices of materials to select from when doing an all porcelain crown. One of the most recent porcelains is e.max. e.max has provided us with the greatest strength in porcelain, but allows us to provide an aesthetically pleasing result. You need to consult with you dentist as this may not be the best choice of material for your particular case. As far as longevity, that will vary greatly depending on many factors. Home care, frequency of preventative care visits, your bite, caries rate, etc just to name a few. You generally should expect a minimum of 5 years for a well paced crown on average.
When a patient comes to our office for a cosmetic consultation regarding veneers, we discuss all of the options available to them. Non-Prep Veneers is an option, but may not be the best treatment choice for every patient. At the consultation we listen to our patient's and find out what are their cosmetic goals. As a cosmetic dentist we are challenged to exceed the patient's aesthetic desires while providing the most conservative dental treatment available. In certain circumstances Non-Prep Veneers may allow a dentist to meet the patient's aesthetic desires without any preparation to the teeth. In other instances, Non-Prep veneers may fall short of the patient's cosmetic goals. It is very important to find a Cosmetic dentist who can spend time with you to discuss ALL of your cosmetic options and the pros and cons of each. Good Luck!!!
Bonding is a great option to close the small space between your Canine and Premolar. In your case, bonding is a very conservative choice and should work really well. Little or no drilling should be required to close the area. You have to maintain good home care to ensure longevity. Good Luck!!
ZOOM Whitening is a wonderful procedure that gives patients a chance to improve the color of their natural teeth. Many patients will get a 3-5 shade improvement with ZOOM usage. However, ZOOM cannot change the color of existing porcelain crowns or dental bonded (composite resin) fillings. You should make sure that your dentist does a thorough clinical exam to see if you would be a good candidate for the ZOOM process. Good luck!!!
