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Why Are My New Crowns Gray Near the Gumline?

Archives for June 2024

Why Are My New Crowns Gray Near the Gumline?

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I fell and broke both my center front teeth and the tooth to the left of them. My dentist did root canals on all three teeth and crowned them. The temporary crowns were too big and thick. My dentist redid the crowns that were closer in size to my natural teeth, but the color is off. My dentist ordered and cemented the final crowns, which look gray near the gumline. I couldn’t see that with the try-in, or I would have insisted on new crowns. My dentist is willing to try again with a white core from the crowns, but I am tired of the inconvenience and frustration. Is it worth another try, or is it time for a refund? Thank you. Seth from Austin, TX

Seth,

If your crowns are the wrong size, too thick, and the color is off, your dentist probably isn’t skilled in cosmetic dentistry. A cosmetic dentist can achieve proper crown shape, size, thickness, and shade.

Why Are Your Dental Crowns Gray Near the Gumline?

Your new dental crowns may be gray near the gumline if your dentist reinforced them with a metal post in each tooth because they broke and needed support. The metal may show through the translucent crowns.

How to Prevent a Metal Tooth Post from Showing Through a Crown

A flexible fiberglass post and dental composite core can give the crowns natural translucence. Even a metal core can be concealed with an opaque layer over the metal to block the color and bond the crown to the layer. Or, your dentist could have instructed the dental lab to create opaquing into the crown to hide the metal.

Without post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry, it can be challenging to understand how interior colors in a crown affect its external appearance. We recommend consulting an accredited cosmetic dentist or a dentist with extensive post-graduate aesthetic training. Your dentist’s multiple attempts to correct your crowns suggest he can’t give you natural-looking results. Remember, it’s your right to seek a second opinion. Schedule a consultation with a cosmetic dentist.

San Antonio cosmetic dentists Dr. Gilberto Tostado and Dr. Karina Acuña sponsor this post. Read how they strive to provide patients with some of the best dental care in San Antonio.

Why Can’t I Get a Root Canal Instead of an Extraction?

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Half my tooth broke off in a crown I got 20 years ago. My dentist said the tooth was infected, and there was a pus sac at the base of the tooth. My dentist says he needs to extract the tooth. Why won’t root canal treatment work? Thanks. Dylan from SD

Dylan.

Five-step diagram of root canal treatment: accessing tooth, from removing the infection to filling and sealing the tooth

Root canal treatment removes tooth infection

Your dentist may be right, but some dentists are eager to extract teeth unnecessarily. Your dentist should have explained why root canal treatment wouldn’t work. So, you can ask or dentist or get a second opinion from another dentist to see if the tooth is savable.

When Might Tooth Extraction Be Necessary?

Tooth extraction may be necessary when the tooth is so decayed that insufficient structure is left to restore it. Perhaps a tooth has been missing for so long that the teeth on either side have drifted into the space, and there isn’t room to restore the tooth.

Saving and restoring teeth is hard work; sometimes, a dentist may fail. Look for a dentist with experience in root canal training or find an endodontist (root canal specialist) or a prosthodontist (tooth restoration and replacement specialist) to determine whether your tooth is savable and what treatment is required to do it. Otherwise, you may get a recommendation for an extraction and dental implant.

 

San Antonio dentists Dr. Gilberto Tostado and Dr. Karina Acuña sponsor this post.

Is It Common for CEREC Crowns to Keep Falling Off?

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My husband’s dental crowns keep falling off. Our dentist says that that tooth shape affects how well a crown fits. The dentist said he would use a different bonding the next time. We’re thinking about getting dental implants, but we’re wondering if we would have the same problem with the crowns on the implants. My husband thinks the crowns keep falling off because it’s a CEREC crown. Are CEREC crowns known to fall off more frequently than other types? Thanks. Esmeralda from Alabama

Esmeralda,

CEREC uses CAD/CAM technology to take digital teeth impressions and craft a precisely fitting crown. The technology produces a secure crown that won’t fall off.

What Helps a Crown Stay Secure?

A dentist’s tooth preparation and bonding techniques affect a crown’s stability.

  • Tooth preparation—A dentist may remove too much tooth structure when preparing it for a crown. A dentist may also aggressively prepare a tooth or lack experience in preparing teeth with severe damage or deep decay. Preparing a tooth for a crown requires time and skill and ensuring it is not over-tapered.
  • Bonding technique—Expert cosmetic dentists’ training in bonding techniques helps them understand which bonding agents and techniques to use for each patient’s case.

One dental crownSkilled cosmetic dentists also carefully prepare teeth, building them with composite as needed to ensure the crown will not fall off.

Get a Second Opinion

Instead of asking your dentist to switch from CEREC crowns to another type or asking for dental implants, your husband should get a second opinion. An advanced cosmetic dentist will examine the crown to determine why it’s falling off and explain how to resolve your husband’s concerns

 

San Antonio dentists Dr. Gilberto Tostado and Dr. Karina Acuña Malo sponsor this post. Read how they strive to provide patients with some of the best dental care in San Antonio.