Black line at the base of a crown

Over time, after a crown is made, it is common to have black lines that form just at the base of the crown or visibly seen on the gums surrounding your crown. Typically, no pain is felt as this should only be a cosmetic problem.

If pain is present, it is recommended to see the dentist as soon as possible.

Whether it is an individual crown or a crown from a root canal treatment, the main causes of its unsightly appearance are:

• Having a porcelain-fused to metal (PFM) crown made by your dentist. When your gums recede as time goes, it reveals the top metal part of your crown
• Staining by the metal on your PFM crown where your gums touch the area with metal.
• Cavity formation between your crown and gums.

Dr Kaufman will assess the cause of the problem and recommend an appropriate solution, which can be:

• Replacing your old crown with a fully porcelain crown to get rid of the black lines and any stains that come along with it.
• In the case of a cavity, it  be treated as soon as possible to prevent further complications.
• Every treatment should be followed by proper dental hygiene at home and regular check up and  hygiene appointments at the dental practice.