Do Ceramic Crowns Turn Yellow?
Dental crowns are a traditional restoration used to protect and strengthen a natural tooth which is damaged. A crown will improve the visual aesthetics of a tooth and protect it from further damage. They are usually designed from ceramic or porcelain, and they are personally designed to match the color and shade of your surrounding natural teeth. Resin or metal crowns can also be used, but are more expensive. Dental crowns are positioned on a broken or decayed tooth or a tooth that has been treated with a root canal procedure. Dental crowns are also used to support traditional dental bridges or to complete implant placements.
Ceramic Crowns Do Not Turn Yellow
If your dental crown is ceramic and in good condition, it will not turn yellow. It is possible, though, that if damaged, the glaze on your crown can result in discoloration.
Ceramic crowns are incredibly color-stable, so they cannot be bleached or whitened and need to be returned to the lab if the color needs to be corrected. The process used to rectify the shade of your crown depends on how it was initially fabricated.
Why Do New Dental Crowns Turn Yellow?
A new dental crown could turn yellow for several reasons, like not being ceramic, or there is damage to the surface, or there is damage during dental cleaning.
- Your crown is not ceramic – Your dentist used a composite crown instead of ceramic. You may ask for a copy of the lab certificate, which documents the material used.
- Damage when adjusting the crown – If your dentist needed to do some minor grinding to your crown to improve your bite, it might have damaged the final glaze. Or the lab could not have glazed it properly.
- Damage during a dental cleaning – If your hygienist uses an instrument that blasts your teeth with sodium bicarbonate, it may damage the glaze. Or an acidulated fluoride treatment might etch the glaze and cause the crown to discolor.
Dental crowns are durable and long-lasting, but they are not completely stain-proof. Instead, they are deemed stain-resistant. This is the reason it is so important to take diligent care of your teeth to avoid any discoloration or staining.
A Simple Cleaning Will Help
Most crowns are ceramic, and if not, they are more susceptible to staining. Porcelain crowns are not invincible and can have a surface stain which needs more attention than just brushing. Stains on a crown can also be caused by acidic foods like tomatoes, cigarette smoke, or alcohol consumption.
These stains are not removed by regular brushing and flossing, but can be by regular, professional dental cleaning. Your dental team will have the tools to clean your natural teeth and any crowns.
Treatment for Damaged Crowns and Teeth
Sometimes, more intensive dental care could be needed, such as for a damaged crown or a weakened tooth beneath it. If the crown is damaged, the solution is to replace it. The amount of attention needed for your natural tooth will vary, needing cleaning to remove stains caused by a leak. If the tooth beneath your damaged crown has either considerable damage or decay, it most often creates a gray appearance rather than a yellow one.