|
Question:
Dark line at top of NEW crown: I had two crowns put in late summer of last year. I chose the porcelain with gold inlay so there would be no dark metal line between the gum and crown. The gold was just in the bottom part of the crown not on the entire inside of the crown.
When the crown was put in my mouth I did not look at it beforehand as I just trusted my dentist to have ordered the correct one. Anyway I got a few blocks from the dentist office and took a look at it and there is a dark line on both of them at the top.
I immediately turned around and went back in and asked why I had this after being told this would not show a dark line. The dentist told me it was my root showing. I have not been able to find anything on the internet to support this. Could it actually be the root and if so why would the crown not have been made to cover the roots? ...Visitor from IL
Answer:
I must admit I am a little confused by the content of your question however, my answer may be of significant insight.
A porcelain crown is different than a gold inlay. I assume that you had a porcelain to gold crown with gold being the under casting metal material. I also assume these are back teeth. Additionally, I assume that the areas in question are on the inside however there is little difference save cosmetic considerations.
What you are looking at positively is part of the root of the tooth. There is no compelling reason to cover
any or all of the root unless this is a front tooth and the front showing part of a front tooth. A dentist does not wish to "bury" the margin or ending point of his crown below the gum line unless he has to.
Frequently we have to either because there is decay or a pre-existing restoration below the gum line or there is insufficient tooth structure left to help retain or keep the crown in place and from falling off.
Jamming the margins under the gum line serves no function save the above. Putting the margins below the gum line unnecessarily, only further complicates the patient's ability to keep it clean. Margins above the gum
line or what you might call high water margins provide easy access to your tooth brush.
This results in a greater return on your investment, as the restoration or crown, in this case, lasts longer and much fewer periodontal or gum problems result.
Additionally, since everything man makes fails (remember, Mother Nature's work did not last you a lifetime), the more tooth structure left around a tooth for the future replacement crown the more likelihood another crown can be made on this same tooth. I hope this information helps you understand the process. Good luck!
Editorial Staff
Return to Crowns FAQ - Part B
| Metropolitan Area Crown Doctors: |
|
Return to FAQ Index
You also have the option of using Google search technology to conduct a specific search within our databases to find more specific information. Use key words or short phrases:
|
|
