Discoloured Tooth Crowns

Over time dental crowns can discolour meaning your smile doesn’t look as bright as it previously did. The colour of your crown may be more apparent following teeth whitening treatments as crowns are unaffected by teeth whitening procedures.

There are many types of dental crowns available and one that is very popular is the porcelain-fused-to-metal crown. The main advantages with this type of crown are that they are strong, can withstand heavy biting pressures and are also aesthetically pleasing making them suitable for both front and back teeth.

The metal lying underneath the crown’s porcelain can sometimes look like a dark line at the edge of the crown. Whilst the dentist will try and position the dark edge so it is just under the gum line of the tooth it can show if the person’s gums start to recede. When this happens and the dark line appears the crown will not look as good.

Ceramic Crowns

All ceramic dental crowns are a good alternative to the ones fused with metal as they have a very natural appearance and will not discolour. They are not as strong as porcelain-fused-to- metal crowns so are usually recommended for front teeth only. There is a lot more pressure put on the back teeth when chewing which is why this type of crown is not the best option for back teeth.

Porcelain Crowns

All porcelain crowns are again very pleasing to look at but can get discoloured in certain situations. This type of crown has a glazed porcelain surface and the only way this type of crown could get discoloured was if the porcelain glaze was damaged. Power polishing equipment that some dental hygienists use has been known to damage the porcelain glaze which when removed will mean the crown is able to pick up stains easily.

Anyone with all porcelain crowns that has fluoride treatment should ensure the hygienist uses a neutral fluoride as acidulated fluoride can also damage porcelain glaze.

Contact Us

The Smile Centre will be able to advise you on the best type of treatment for you. To book a free consultation, call us on 0800 327 7192. Alternatively, you can enquire online and we will call you back.