A Dark Sign: Why is There a Black Line Around Your Dental Crown?

When you first get a dental crown, you should only see your treatment’s upsides. That’s only natural – the cap will quickly protect your tooth and blend with your smile! However, you may notice a black line around your dental crown after enough time passes. Never fear – your Lancaster dentist knows just what to do in these situations. Here’s a primer on why black lines form around dental crowns and how to treat them.

What Causes a Black Line Around Your Dental Crown?

A black line around a dental crown isn’t a sign that the cap isn’t protecting your tooth. Instead, this line usually forms for one of two reasons. These are:

Your Crown is Showing Its Metal Parts

In many cases, a crown develops a black line at its borders because it shows underlying metal parts. That cause is especially likely when the cap is a somewhat older model.

Remember, porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns use metal for their base. This material is often gold and has a dark gray color at the crown’s border. If that metal gets exposed for various reasons (crown wear, gum recession, etc.), it’ll form a blackish line around the cap and worsen your tooth’s look.

Your Crown Casts a Shadow

While less likely than the metal-related cause, sometimes a black line can form around a crown because the cap doesn’t fit well. This poor fit may create an optical illusion that casts a nearby shadow.

If your black line results from a shadow, it shouldn’t be as prominent as one formed from metal exposure. Consider looking at example photos online to learn which kind you may have.

How Should You Fix It?

Often, the best way to treat a black line around a dental crown is to get a replacement crown. The newer cap wouldn’t have the flaws that led to the initial line’s creation.

A newer, metal-free crown is unlikely to have the black line problem. Since it matches your smile’s shade and lacks metallic parts, it’ll blend seamlessly with nearby teeth. The crown will also look natural even if you suffer gum recession; it has no oddly-colored areas to reveal. Best of all, you could expect such results to last for twenty years (or more) if you care for the cap well.

A black line around your dental crown may seem minor, but it can still affect your smile’s look and point to other issues. See your dental provider when possible to get the issue fixed!

About the Practice

Led by Drs. Gupta, Je, and Jeong, our team here at Lancaster Family Smiles is dedicated to providing quality dental care for whole families. That means we offer a wide range of oral treatments, including preventive, cosmetic, and restorative options. Our team is even ready and well-equipped to handle dental emergencies as needed! For more details or to book a visit, please reach us on our website or by phone at (469)-729-7707.