Black Line Around a Dental Crown: What Does It Mean?

Dental crowns are caps that are shaped like teeth and are often used to repair damaged pearly whites. They are also commonly used to seal a tooth off after a root canal to protect it from further damage and can improve its look, structure, and function. Though this treatment is meant to make your smile look better, the opposite might be true when a dark line begins to form around your restoration. What is the cause of this? Read on to learn what causes a black line around a dental crown as well as what your dentist can do to fix it.

What Causes Dark Lines to Form?

Some dental crowns are made from porcelain-fused-to-metal. If you have this kind of crown and a dark line is forming on your restoration, this may be the metal showing through. Since dental crowns are meant to perfectly match the rest of your smile, this can make it stand out. As a result, your crown will be easy to pick out and will prevent your smile from looking as healthy and natural as you hoped.

How Your Dentist Can Fix a Black Line Around a Dental Crown

Fortunately, a black line around a dental crown can generally be fixed by having it replaced. Since the dark line is caused by metal, replacing it with a crown that doesn’t contain any will fix this issue. This will give your smile a more appealing, natural look and will prevent the tooth from standing out as one that has been restored. You can keep the new crown looking bright and beautiful by brushing twice per day, flossing every night, and seeing your dentist biannually.

5 Benefits of Dental Crowns

Once you get a black line around your dental crown replaced with a new non-metal one, there are several benefits you’ll be able to enjoy, such as:

• Improved comfort – Crowns are made to perfectly fit with the rest of your smile.
• Better chewing ability – Since crowns cover the entire visible part of a tooth, this provides an even, stable chewing surface.
• Lower risk of dental problems – Since dental crowns protect damaged teeth, this can prevent additional dental issues down the line.
• Protection for natural teeth – Dental crowns repair severely infected teeth, which can prevent the infection from spreading and doing more damage.
• Long lifespan – As long as you take good care of your dental crowns with a good oral hygiene routine, a healthy diet, and regular dental visits, you can expect them to last over 15 years.

Dental crowns are an exceptional treatment that can repair the look and function of your smile. If you have a black line around your dental crown, speak with your dentist about ways to repair it so your smile can get back on the right track.

About the Author

Dr. Zack Walker is a Kernersville-based dentist who leads a skilled team. He is the son of two talented dentists and offers a range of exceptional procedures to repair damaged smiles and protect them from additional harm. If you have a black line around a dental crown, he offers replacements to prevent this issue and give your smile a more realistic and appealing look. To make an appointment with Dr. Zack Walker or for more information about dental crowns, visit his website or call (336) 993-3727.