Only with older metal crowns, but never with modern metal-free options.
You’ve just gotten a gorgeous new smile. You’re checking yourself out in the mirror. Then, after some months or even years, you notice it. A dark shadow appears around your gum line.
This is a very common fear. In fact, it is a sad situation for many patients who come to us for help. However, let’s analyze exactly why this happens. More importantly, we will discuss how to prevent it.
What Causes the Dark Gum Line?
Imagine an old-fashioned dental crown like a gorgeous house atop an iron base that has been rusting. The home’s facade is still shiny and flawless. However, if the base is compromised, the entire house suffers.
At Lema Dental Clinic, our clinical team has seen such cases quite often, especially with older dental work. The principal culprit is a Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM) crown. These crowns conceal a dark metal core under a white outer layer.
This is what we observe in the clinic:
- Metal Stains: The metal base may corrode over time when exposed to your saliva. This can lead to the formation of a dark stain on your soft gums.
- Gum Shrinkage: One of the natural signs of aging is that our gums may recede a little bit. When the gums recede, the metal edge of the crown that was previously hidden becomes visible.
- The “Eggshell” Effect: It is possible that you simply have thin gums. They may seem like the membrane inside an eggshell. In this case, the dark metal can just be seen shining through them.
This is the truth: patients today desire perfect, radiant smiles. If you’re aiming for a naturally white smile or daring dental luxury jewelry, a dark line will spoil the appearance.
Techniques We Use to Build the Ideal Smile in Turkey
We believe that your smile is our no-compromise project. Professor Doctor Coşkun Yıldız has mentioned time and again that genuine success is when your teeth still appear natural after a decade.
Therefore, we have ceased using old metal-core crowns. On the other hand, Dentist Polen Akkılıç and her team opt for the highest quality contemporary materials. We rely on pure Zirconia and special glass ceramics. These are completely metal-free. They even allow light to pass through, similarly to a natural tooth. This is what ensures that your gums stay looking healthy and beautifully pink.
When you come to Turkey for treatment, you do not simply get a new tooth. Instead, you get a meticulously designed masterpiece that perfectly conforms to your body.
Different Crown Types Comparative Analysis
| Crown Type | The Possibility of a Black Line Formation | Appearance and Style | Ideal for |
| PFM (Metal Core) | Very High (First not visible, then clearly shows) | Poor (Often looks dull) | Cheapest option for back teeth |
| Zirconia | None (You won’t find metal) | Good (Almost indistinguishable) | Major dental restorations, implant crowns |
| Glass Ceramic | None (You won’t find metal) | Excellent (Brightest shade) | Best for front teeth to enhance the smile |
Frequently Asked Questions
A dark mark such as this can hardly be removed without the intervention of a dentist. The only way to say goodbye to that issue is to get the old crown replaced with a new one made of non-metal materials.
Having no metal inside, these crowns are incapable of corroding, and they cannot create a dark shadow on your gums. Keeping the beautiful pink tone of your smile, the Dentist Polen Akkılıç and her team trust them.
Most of the time, the presence of the black line simply means that the metal base of an old crown is visible through your gums. Anyway, it is better to let our clinical team examine the tooth just to be on the safe side and ensure there is no decay.
Thanks to our advanced equipment, the making of your brand-new, attractive crowns lasts a few days only. You will get to have a short and nice trip while exploring the marvels of Istanbul.
To make certain that you experience no pain at all, we employ special numbing techniques during the procedure. Most of our patients report that the entire experience is quite pleasant and even relaxing.
- Sailer, I., Makarov, N. A., Thoma, D. S., Zwahlen, M., & Pjetursson, B. E. (2015). All-ceramic or metal-ceramic tooth-supported fixed dental prostheses (FDPs)? A systematic review of the survival and complication rates. Dental Materials, 31(6), 603-623.
- Al-Amleh, B., Lyons, K., Swain, M., & Klingberg, G. (2010). Clinical trials in zirconia: a systematic review. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 37(8), 641-652.
- Pjetursson, B. E., Sailer, I., Makarov, N. A., Zwahlen, M., & Thoma, D. S. (2015). All-ceramic or metal-ceramic single crowns? A systematic review. Dental Materials, 31(6), 575-602.
- Larsson, C., & Wennerberg, A. (2014). The clinical success of zirconia-based crowns: a systematic review. International Journal of Prosthodontics, 27(1), 33-43.
- Fabbri, G., Zarone, F., Dellificorelli, G., Cannistraro, G., De Stefano, M., Bordin, S., & Sorrentino, R. (2014). Clinical evaluation of 860 anterior and posterior lithium disilicate restorations: retrospective study with a mean follow-up of 3 years and a maximum observational period of 6 years. The International Journal of Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry, 34(2), 165-177.
