How do you get rid of the black line on the gum caused by metal-infused porcelain crowns? What are the choices from cheap – to expensive?
– Susan from Great Britain
Susan,
There really isn’t a cheap way to fix this.
The problem is the whole structure of the porcelain fused to metal crown. Not only is there that black line right at the gumline, but the laboratory technician has to use powerful opaquers in the part of the crown that is near the gum. If a dentist tries to just drill away the black line and cover it over, there is still a serious color match issue between the base of the crown and the root of the tooth, and it can get really messy trying to blend that in, and will probably look ugly.
So you’re down to two basic choices: live with the black line, or get a new crown. And do it right this time, which means getting all-porcelain or all-ceramic for upper front teeth.
In the United States, the cost will vary from around $1000 to about $2000 per tooth, depending on what part of the country.
Dr. Hall
Read more about porcelain crowns on front teeth.
About David A. Hall
Dr. David A. Hall was one of the first 40 accredited cosmetic dentists in the world. He practiced cosmetic dentistry in Iowa, and in 1990 earned his accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is now president of Infinity Dental Web, a company in Mesa, Arizona that does advanced internet marketing for dentists.
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