Discoloration of dead tooth showing through porcelain veneer. What can I do to fix this?

Question

I had 4 porcelain crowns done 3 years ago due to an accident where my front teeth were knocked out. Now, the gums are atarting to recede and on two of the teeth, they look blue, as if the dead teeth from underneath are showing through. What can be done to fix this? Obviously having veeners done is not inexpensive so I figured they would last a very long time before any issues like this arose. Any advice would be great!

Sarah Thompson, DMD · Answer

I'm sorry to hear about the trauma that caused your teeth to be damaged.  My advice on the discoloration is that you have the veneers completely redone.  I have not seen great results with internal bleaching, but I can tell you that having the veneers redone can give you a flawless look.  It would be great if you got some kind of warranty on your veneers this time.  Good luck and I hope this helps. Follow me if you have more questions.Sarah Thompson, DMD

Patrick Broome, DMD · Answer

The issue you describe is a possible consequence of tooth trauma. It is very difficult to predict if or when a traumatized tooth will discolor.Based on your description it sounds like the problem may be with the underlying tooth and bone supporting it, not the veneer. Since veneers are very thin shells of porcelain any change in underlying tooth color will show through. Your specific options may vary but in situations such as this the options typically include; Internal bleaching - whitening the tooth from the inside (if you your tooth has had previous endodontic "root canal" treatment). This could reverse the discoloration and leave the veneer intact. You could also consider a new porcelain restoration that can be designed to "mask" the underlying discoloration. A dental implant may also be considered if the tooth and surrounding bone are severely damaged.I would encourage you to visit with your dentist as soon as possible so they can evaluate your specific situation. We wish you the best of luck!

John F. Calvert, DDS · Answer

I assume from your question that your teeth were broken and not actually knocked completely out. The dark that is showing from the recession can be from two different possibilities. If you had root canal therapy done, then the roots typically become darker and with recession, will start to show above the edge of the crown at the gum line. The other possibility is that you had porcelain crowns that were made over a metal base, and that silver color metal base is showing through. Either way, the only way to correct this is to have new all porcelain crowns made for your teeth. The margin should slightly go underneath the gum line to hide a potentially dark root. A good cosmetic dentist can get your teeth looking great. Good luck.

James Burkholder, DDS · Answer

In the explanation of your problem you first say the front teeth were restored with crowns.  Then, later you say they were veneers.  Let's say they were veneers.  Veneers are usually very thin, almost translucent.  If the dark dentin from the root canals is starting to show through, the veneers would need to be replaced.  I would probably use full crowns with cores (inner layers under the porcelain) made of zirconia or emax that would mask the dark dentin.  The newer Lava, Procera, or Emax crowns can be very esthetic and still mask out the darker color.  Ask your dentist about this.

Discoloration of dead tooth showing through porcelain veneer. What can I do to fix this?

Answers (4)

Answer: Crowns or Veneers?

Answer: Crowns or Veneers?

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Everything you need to know about Porcelain Veneers

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Discoloration of dead tooth showing through porcelain veneer. What can I do to fix this?

Answers (4)

Answer: Crowns or Veneers?

Answer: Crowns or Veneers?

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Porcelain Veneers

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