Would a Porcelain Crown Cause my Gums to Darken?

Sometimes the dark edge around a crown can be the dark root of the tooth under the crown.  Root canal teeth frequently turn dark and it can make the gums appear darker because they are so thin over the root of the tooth.  The dark edge around a crown can also be the material the crown was made of.  Some porcelain (white) crowns have a metal base under the porcelain which can also make the root appear darker.  We use all porcelain crowns without metal that appear natural and do not cause this problem.

Veneers can cost anywhere from $1500 to $2500 a tooth depending on the severity of the case... your specific case will be discussed in detail and all the fees outlined in advace.  We have many financing options available. The true value lies in the final results of an incredible smile.  The art is in the work of the dentist and his expertise and experience. 

For front teeth, its best to go with All ceramic crowns as they will not darken your gums. In Metal porcelain crowns there is a small metal margin near the gums which starts showing through over a period of time. While all ceramic crowns have no such black margin. There are a variety of all ceramic crowns available these days. check with your dentist to choose which one works best for you. Gaurav K. Goel  MDS Prosthodontics India 

 

Dark gums are usually due to Porcelain fused to metal crowns, where the metal margin of the crown shows through the gums. An all porcelain crown will not cause the gums to darken, especially if the margin of the crown is tucked slightly under the gums. However, if the tooth under the crown is dark or stained due to a root canal treatment, then it needs to be bleached internally before the crown is fabricated and cemented. All porcelain crowns with proper shade selection and proper stain blockers should look very natural without a dark line under the gums.

 

 

 

Just make sure the crown is all ceramic, and not porcelain fused to metal (PFM), and you will not have to worry about your gums darkening.

Make sure that the crown being placed is all porcelainand not a porcelain fused to metal crown.  Both are very functional and lasting, but in areas of esthetic concern with thin gum tissue the thin metal margingn of a PFM crown may show through the gums giving the appearance of dark gums.  IT is not a discoloration, just the gray color of the metal seen through thin tissue.  All porcelain will not cause this

If you decide to do a porcelain crown on that tooth, make sure it is ALL porcelain and not porcelain fused to metal.  The metal causes that discoloration along the gum line.  If there is enough tooth structure left, you can always place a porcelain veneer. Third solution would be to do an internal bleaching process which would whiten the tooth from the inside out. Since you do not have access the dentists credentials in Dublin, I would suggest you get a number of opinions from dentists who do these procedures and go with the one you feel is the most competent.

In answer to your question, no, a porcelain crown will not cause your gums to darken. However, if you have previously had a root canal on a tooth and the tooth after a number of years has discolored, if there is adequate tooth structure remaining, you may be a candidate for internal bleaching. That is a process that by going into the back side of the tooth and opening up the access where the root canal was done, a bleaching pellet can be placed repeatedly until the color of the tooth lightens.  If this process is not an option, or the color it lightens to is not satisfactory, then a crown would be indicated in this instance. You need to know, that a dark root may show through very thin tissue and that it is not the crown that is causing the discoloration, that is if it is an all porcelain crown. It the crown has a color of metal, that would be a concern in possible showing through your tissue and giving it a dark area at the gumline.  Consult with your dentist first, and make sure all your questions are answered so as not to have any surprises along the way.

The people you observed may have crowns that are porcelain with metal, after some time if periodontal problems are present there can be gum/bone loss causing the root & or the metal to be exposed which does look dark.  Now in between the teeth there may be other issues, they can have fillings that are not properly sealed which can darken over time & even natural teeth can look darkened in the presence of periodontal problems or car.  In your case a full porcelain crown is a great option since it looks very natural.  There are some options as far as materials that can be used, so make sure to ask as many questions you need to see which will be your best option.

If you had your root canal done 10 years ago and tooth is still in a good condition (enough sound tooth structure) you might be a good candidate for a porcelain veneer. If  you have a lot of natural tooth missing, then you woud be better off with a crown. The determination can be done after consultation with dental specialist, which I would highly reccomend. Full porcelain crowns do not create any dark lines or shadows at the gum line, do not worry about that.