There is a little metal showing on my dental crown. Is there any fix for this? (photo)

Question

I just had my permanent crown attached yesterday and today I noticed a little metal showing on the chewing surface, right near the front edge. Due to my bite, my dentist had to do some grinding to seat it properly. Is there any fix for this or do I need a new crown or should I not worry about it? The metal showing is a about the size or a pencil head.

Scott Young, DDS · Answer

You have a crown that has a  metal coping and porcelain covering it.  The porcelain was probably thin due to the lack of space available for the crown.  It is only an aesthetic issue and functionally it will be fine.  Should you ever have another crown  make sure to request that it be "metal free."  Good luck.

Jerry M. Strauss, DMD · Answer

Sounds like not enough tooth structure was reduced when preparing for the new crown so to fit the new crown into place, the dentist removed the porcelain down to the metal. If it bothers you aesthetically, return to the dentist and have him redo it. Suggest an all porcelain zirconium crown which has no metal base and looks much nicer.

Daniel B. Strader, DDS · Answer

Your dentist appears to have ordered for you a crown with a nickel substructure covered with porcelain to make it look like a tooth.  Not enough of the tooth was removed from the chewing surface to allow for the thickness of metal and porcelain, forcing the lab to make the crown too big for the space.  The dentist then ground down the crown exposing the metal.  Though the metal showing does not endanger the tooth, if you want to replace the crown you may be able to remove it yourself without drilling by biting into sticky Milk Duds.  Then have the tooth shortened a little more where the metal shows through and have the dentist order you a full contour zirconium oxide crown which will need no metal layer underneath.

Donald L. Wilcox, DDS · Answer

You are seeing the metal understructure showing through the porcelain which is baked over the metal to make the crown look like a tooth.  Your tooth is relatively short so it is difficult to have enough room in these cases for the porcelain to be thick enough to cover all the metal.  It will not affect the longevity of your crown.

Bradley Matthew, DDS · Answer

There is no fix for that except for replacing the entire crown.  The good news is that there is no harm to your tooth and the size of the metal showing is miniscule.  That being said, your dentist should have shown it to you and given you the option of having the lab redo it.  I'd leave it alone because it will be more trouble then it's worth to drill off the new crown and make a new one.

There is a little metal showing on my dental crown. Is there any fix for this? (photo)

Answers (6)

Answer: Pinpoint area of metal showing on biting surface of new crown

Answer: Pinpoint area of metal showing on biting surface of new crown

Answer: Wouldn't worry about it

Answer: Wouldn't worry about it

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There is a little metal showing on my dental crown. Is there any fix for this? (photo)

Answers (6)

Answer: Pinpoint area of metal showing on biting surface of new crown

Answer: Pinpoint area of metal showing on biting surface of new crown

Answer: Wouldn't worry about it

Answer: Wouldn't worry about it

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Dental Crown

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.