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Question:
Dark Gums around New Crown: I recently had an old root canal re-treated and a new crown put on #7.
The tooth also has a post to hold the crown because it had been bleached many times before the crown and has weakened the tooth. Since the new crown, my tooth underneath had turned very dark, making my gums dark around the new crown.
My dentist said there really wasn't anything that could be done.
Since this is a front tooth and my smile shows the dark area, I need something done. It is not something that I can live with. Is an implant an option? ...Visitor from MN
Answer:
First of all I am not sure if the darkness that bothers you is coming from the tooth, the root under (around) the crown or if you can see darkness through your crown.
Bleaching the tooth and root is difficult but the weakened status of your tooth has less to do with bleaching and more to do with amount of tooth structure removed to do the root canal therapy.
So, what to do. First without photos, x-rays, probings I can't be all that specific.
If the darkening is around the neck of the tooth at the crown margin, there is a technique called the Dickerson Ditch where the dentist can create a ditch in the root, fill it with opaque/white composite to change the root color, then the crown is done. This can create a beautiful result.
Second, if the root is dark and you can see darkness through the gum tissue, you can have gingival grafting to thicken the attached gum tissue and hide the darkness.
Third, if the post is metal and it's dark it can be replaced with a tooth colored, glass post and porcelain to zirconia crown to change light transmission through the root.
Lastly, you may need extraction with an implant, porcelain abutment and crown.
Wisconsin Reconstructive Implant Dentistry
Richard Winter, DDS MAGD
Winter Dental Associates
5323 W. Hampton Avenue
Milwaukee Wisconsin WI 53218
(414) 464-9021
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