Can Emax crowns be used in a case of dark anterior roots? Would a masking cement be sufficient to cover the darkness? (Photo)

The first question is whether the teeth with dark roots have had root canal treatment.The dark roots need to be addressed with a restoration that extends inside the root to block out the dark color prior to the crown.  If the teeth have had root canal treatment this is easier.  This is a basic rule with anterior cosmetic work for over 25 years since advent of all ceramic crowns.Second, it is a good idea to evaluate the smile line.  Sometime crown lengthening can move the margins to an area where they don't show with smiling. In general E-Max give nicer anterior esthetic restorations than zirconia.

Emax is not as opaque as zirconia, so discolorations CAN shine through.  One option is to have the lab create a zirconia coping to cement over the tooth, and emax can be cemented over the coping.  It may be more simple to have the lab create a PFZ crown, where all this is made into one, but a drawback is that porcelain may chip off of the zirconia and the entire thing would need to be replaced.

Hi:
An emax crown can be used as long as an opaquer cement  is used to cover the dark tooth.
Best,
Dr. Maddahi