Is it normal for my tooth to look black under my crown? It's not supposed to darken. Most of the time, tooth discoloration is caused by bacteria getting in the dental crown. It can also be the result of an inadequate seal on the crown.
However, what patients may not know is that tooth decay under a dental crown is still possible. Like natural teeth, not maintaining proper oral hygiene and allowing bacteria and plaque to accumulate is why tooth decay under a dental crown is an issue.
Brown and Grey Spots in the Affected Area
Brown and grey spot formations are a distinct visual indicator of a potential infection or tooth decay under a dental crown. Spots can be visible on the white portion of a veneer, almost appearing like mould.
Hence, your tooth might look black when the crown falls off due to tooth decay. Stay on the lookout for cavity symptoms to avoid dental problems. Intrinsic stains can also make your tooth appear black. Also known as endogenous stains, they can appear when a black substance permeates your tooth.
Brown and grey spots show up on the tooth material around a crown where pearly whites should be. These spots indicate tooth decay, which can be the culprit of nerve damage. Decay under crowns starts with a buildup of a sticky yellow plaque film.
Redness at or around the site of the crown placement. Swelling of the gums or jaw around the area that now has the crown. Tenderness or pain around the crown. Unusual warmth that you only feel in one area of your mouth and is unrelated to any hot food or drink that you may have just had.
If your child's tooth starts turning black or grey and they're experiencing pain in or around the tooth, you should make an appointment with a children's dentist right away. The sooner it's treated, the more likely it is that the tooth can be saved.
In most cases, a black line forms because the metal from the crown is showing through. Since older dental crowns are typically made of porcelain fused to metal, the metal will eventually become exposed as the gumline moves and recedes over time.
Any pain or swelling that you notice can be an indicator of either a faulty crown or improper placement. These can also be warning signs of an infection. Thus, any discomfort or inflammation should be brought to your dentist's attention.
Rotten teeth: A cracked or broken tooth can rot from the inside, which will make it turn black. The black appearance occurs due to the decomposition within the tooth itself. If you have a rotten tooth you will require a root canal. Root canal treatments do not cause a tooth to turn black.
A crown is connected to a natural tooth underneath it. Because of this, decay can form around the edges of a crown. The only way to permanently fix a crown with decay around the edges is to remove the old crown, remove the decay, and do a new crown.
Tooth sensitivity to temperatures (hot or cold) or sugary foods and drinks. Pain or tenderness in the areas surrounding the crown. Increasing redness at the area of crown placement. A discharge of yellow, green, or clear fluid or pus that appears to be draining or leaking out around or under the crown.
With regular dental check-ups, your dentist will be able to perform an x-ray of your teeth to determine whether there is any damage or decay underneath your crown. In some cases, the dentist may need to conduct a more in-depth oral examination to identify whether there is a cavity.
Crowns can be used for a severely decayed tooth that can no longer be saved. Drilling the badly decayed section can often lead to cracks. Thus, protecting it with a crown can stop the decay from getting worse. When you misplaced any tooth in your mouth, the perfect treatment for proper restoration would be an implant.
The average lifespan of a dental crown
Dental crowns should last around 15 years with proper maintenance. If patients take good care of the crown, they can last up to 30 years. Crowns made of porcelain can endure anywhere from 5 to 15 years.
You may need your crown replaced if your:
Gums are receding around the tooth that has a crown. Crown is over 10 years old or fell out. Bite seems uneven or abnormal. Crowned tooth or surrounding area is painful, swollen, or inflamed.
Most crowns last between five and 15 years before needing to be replaced (or at least repaired). In some cases it is obvious that you need to replace a crown because it has fallen out or suffered extensive damage; in other circumstances, it is less obvious that there is a problem with a crown.
The best way to eliminate that unattractive dark line is to replace the crown. In most cases, we can use a dental crown that is entirely made of porcelain, which looks completely natural.
If you have black spots on your teeth along the gumline, it might be black tartar, aka dental calculus. Bacteria buildup on the gum lines create plaque. When plaque stays on the teeth, it hardens and becomes tartar. Your tartar can turn black when it remains untreated, creating black stains along the gumline.
Tooth discoloration: if parts of your tooth look brown, black, or dark yellow, you may have a tooth infection. Gum discoloration: if your gums are darker red than normal, or otherwise discolored, it's a sign of infection.
A Darkened or Discolored Tooth:
While some tooth discoloration is common, and can be amended with a teeth whitening treatment, having a severely discolored tooth is indicative of severe tooth decay or the breakdown of internal tissue and might be a sign that root canal treatment is needed.
However, if a tooth is severely damaged, your dentist may not be able to save it. In these cases, they will normally recommend that the tooth be removed. Dentists may recommend removal in the following circumstances: Dental injury resulting in a cracked or fractured tooth or root.
Oral bacteria are tricky little rascals, and they can make their way underneath a crown, particularly if the person does not have good oral hygiene. When these bacteria get underneath the crown, they begin to convert any sugars that make their way into the crown to acids that eat away at enamel.
Decaying under a Crown can affect your oral health and cause issues like bad breath or sore gums. In addition, the decay can spread deep into the tooth, causing an infection that may require tooth removal.