Do Ceramic Crowns Turn Yellow?
Patients planning to have ceramic crowns often fear that the prosthetic restoration will discolor over time and require replacement. Do ceramic crowns turn yellow or darken? What can cause a discoloration of a ceramic crown, and how can you prevent it?
Before answering the above questions, let's focus on the recommendations for proper care of ceramic crowns. Ceramic crowns should be cared for in the same way as natural teeth. Brushing your teeth after meals is crucial. For this purpose, use a toothbrush with soft or medium bristles and a low-abrasion toothpaste. Following these recommendations will not only keep your ceramic crowns in pristine condition but will also positively impact the health and aesthetics of your natural teeth.
How to brush teeth with ceramic crowns?
Patients often worry about whether ceramic crowns turn yellow. Questions also frequently arise about whether ceramic crowns darken. The answer to these questions is no. Ceramic crowns do not yellow or darken. However, this doesn't mean their color doesn't change over time. Plaque that builds up on natural teeth affects their color, making them appear yellow or darker than before. Plaque and dental plaque also affect the color of a ceramic crown. Over time, a crown may appear yellowed or darkened. This is the result of plaque buildup on the restoration, which should be removed with a professional dental cleaning. After such a treatment, the crown should regain its original color, just like our natural teeth.
Do ceramic crowns darken?
Ceramic crowns don't darken, even over time (though to ensure they perform their aesthetic functions, it's important to know how to care for them). Furthermore, they have a smooth surface. It's important to remember, however, that natural teeth discolor and darken, so in many cases, replacing the crown over time will be a good solution to better match the color of other teeth. It's worth noting that some patients find their crowns yellow because of the buildup of plaque and deposits. In such cases, regular dental hygiene is recommended.
Can eating certain foods cause a ceramic crown to change color?
Knowing how persistent natural food dyes can be, we often wonder how food can affect the color of our restorations. In practice, it turns out that it has no effect whatsoever, as long as we practice proper oral hygiene and brush our teeth after every meal. It's important to remember that certain foods increase the tendency for our teeth to stain, while others cause plaque and tartar to accumulate more quickly. These factors affect the color of our teeth and can cause color differences between a ceramic crown and natural teeth. To prevent this, it's recommended to limit coffee and tea consumption, as well as smoking and alcohol consumption. Otherwise, we must expect more frequent visits to the dentist and the expense of professional teeth cleaning.
In conclusion
In general, ceramic crowns won’t turn yellow or darken, as long as proper hygiene is followed. To ensure ceramic crowns last, they should be cared for as you would natural teeth. It's best to brush them after every meal and use a low-abrasion toothpaste. Dental floss should be used to clean the spaces between your teeth. It's also a good idea to visit your dentist twice a year for the aforementioned dental hygiene treatments. Contact us today for more information!