Shingeumho Station Dental Clinic: Concerned about an old, darkened front tooth crown?

Hello.

I’m Dr. Kim Tae-young, chief director of Barunyoung Dental Clinic.^^

Recently, after reading my blog post on aesthetic prosthetics for front teeth (anterior region),

many patients experiencing similar issues have visited our clinic.

It’s gratifying to know that patients who visit after seeing my blog

appreciate my clinical results, and it was a moment that made me resolve

to dedicate myself even more diligently to future clinical work.^^

A patient who visited us after considering dental clinics around Shingeumho

mentioned that the blog content perfectly addressed their concerns,

which were related to the crown they had done when they were young, and they wanted it remade.

The crown I had made when I was young is too dark.

All prosthetics can change color over time, especially if they’ve been in place for a long time.

There are several reasons for this:

1. Exposure of metal-containing prosthetics
2. Discoloration of endodontically treated teeth
3. Gum recession, causing a dark shadow to show through

Generally, when old prosthetics

become aesthetically unpleasing,

it’s often due to the natural recession of the gum line over time,

which exposes the tooth structure beneath the prosthetic, leading to an unesthetic appearance.

After seeing the blog, I also want beautiful aesthetic prosthetics for my front teeth.

The patient visited with the chief complaint that their central front tooth, which is most visible when smiling, appeared dark.

They mentioned that a broken part was crowned when they were young, and nearly 20 years later, it had gradually darkened.

This patient exhibited all three factors previously explained

that contribute to a prosthetic appearing dark.

In the past, prosthetics were made by layering porcelain over metal,

so due to the limitations of the prosthetic, the endodontically treated tooth, and gum recession,

aesthetic remake of the prosthetic seemed necessary.

Teeth that have undergone root canal treatment

tend to darken over time.

To cover a dark tooth,

First, make the crown as thick as possible to minimize the tooth showing through.

Second, perform internal bleaching on the endodontically treated tooth (non-vital bleaching).

If a discolored tooth that has undergone root canal treatment, as shown above,

undergoes non-vital bleaching,

the dark color can be compensated for,

leading to a more natural result than covering it with a prosthetic alone.

However,

for the patient above,

it appeared there was a metal post inside the tooth,

and removing it entirely could weaken the tooth,

so we decided to proceed with aesthetic prosthetics only.

These are photos after removing the existing prosthetic and preparing the tooth to match the receded gum line.

In the past, gold posts were used

to reinforce teeth,

and I could feel the dedication of the director at that time.^^

We compared various shades to find the most natural color possible.

It was indeed challenging to cover the color of the discolored tooth

with the thickness of the prosthetic alone.

In the stage before the final prosthetic,

I apologize, but I asked the patient to visit several times,

and despite their busy schedule, they readily agreed,

allowing the final aesthetic prosthetic to be completed.

We also compared the prosthetic with the patient, not only under clinic lighting but also in natural light,

to create a natural aesthetic prosthetic color.

To cover the discolored tooth,

we created a shade that was as natural as possible with the surrounding teeth.

It would have been good to also treat the broken part of the adjacent tooth,

but due to the busy year-end,

the final treatment was postponed.

Anterior aesthetic prosthetics are important not only for function

but also for aesthetic elements like shape and color,

requiring many considerations during fabrication.

Anterior aesthetic prosthetics are very susceptible to fracture,

requiring continuous management through regular check-ups.

For those concerned about discolored old crowns in Shingeumho,

please visit our dental clinic for detailed consultation.

I hope the information provided today was of great help to you.

Thank you.^^

Treatment start: 2023.12.01

Treatment end: 2023.12.22

▼ Related cases you might also like to read ▼

We approach all visiting patients as if we were explaining to family.
It is my wish to create a trustworthy dental clinic where everyone who visits with worries
leaves feeling reassured.
- Barunyoung Dental Clinic

This post was directly written by Barunyoung Dental Clinic for the purpose of providing medical information and hospital advertising (in compliance with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Service Act).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main reasons why old front tooth crowns darken?

There are several reasons why old prosthetics darken. These primarily include exposure of metal-containing prosthetics, discoloration of endodontically treated teeth, and gum recession causing a dark shadow to show through. The natural recession of the gum line over time is also a contributing factor.

How can a discolored tooth after root canal treatment be brightened?

There are two methods to brighten a discolored tooth after root canal treatment. First, the crown can be made as thick as possible to minimize the tooth showing through. Second, ‘non-vital bleaching’ can be performed internally on the endodontically treated tooth to compensate for the dark color and achieve a more natural result.

What are the important considerations when remaking aesthetic front tooth prosthetics?

For aesthetic front tooth prosthetics, not only function but also aesthetic elements like shape and color are very important. It’s crucial to find a shade that is as natural as possible with the surrounding teeth to cover the discolored tooth, and the prosthetic should be fabricated considering its thickness and the tooth’s condition. Additionally, as they can be susceptible to fracture, continuous management through regular check-ups is necessary.

How long does front tooth crown remake treatment usually take?

In the case described in the article, the treatment started on December 1, 2023, and ended on December 22, 2023. Therefore, it took approximately 3 weeks. The duration may vary depending on the patient’s number of visits and tooth condition.

Is it possible to remake aesthetic prosthetics even with a metal post?

Yes, it is possible. As with the patient in the article, if there is a metal post inside the tooth, removing it entirely could weaken the tooth, so the prosthetic can be made using aesthetic materials only. In such cases, the focus is on covering the discolored tooth by adjusting the prosthetic’s thickness and color.