Black teeth are often the result of decay, trauma or staining. When decay goes ignored, it can cause the teeth to appear black as bacteria enters the enamel. The problem won’t go away on its own.
Is it possible to save black teeth?
Black teeth are often a serious indicator that something’s wrong. If it’s not surface staining, and the tooth is internally black, you’ll need a check-up appointment to identify the root cause, which will determine the next appropriate course of action. Our check-up costs begin from £69, including x-rays, which will reveal the best treatment to save your tooth. For us, nothing is impossible – even if, as a last resort, we need to extract the tooth, we can immediately replace it with a dental implant.
Black teeth types
- Do you have a tooth that’s suddenly turned dark?
- Do you have several teeth that appear black?
- Does tooth pain also accompany your tooth discolouration?
- Does the tooth have a black spot, or is it turning grey?
- Is the black staining spread out or in the crevices and gum line?
As experienced general dentists, we’ve treated black teeth countless times and know that a black tooth is often the first sign of a dying tooth. Often, it’s a major sign of decay or ignored cavities, indicating the need for a root canal.
However, in other scenarios, it can be due to simple staining, caused by improper oral care, smoking, or a tooth impacted by trauma.
Black teeth treatments
Whatever the cause of your black teeth or tooth, the recommended treatments are mostly the same: to improve the appearance of black teeth, save the tooth and protect it, or extract it altogether.
Black lines or stains on teeth
Black stains and lines on teeth form on tooth fissures at the top of the gum line and are often caused by a build-up of food debris, smoking, cavities and poor or improper oral hygiene. If you haven’t had a check-up or a hygiene clean in a while, you might notice these black lines, which can be mostly reversed with a hygiene appointment and AirFlow therapy to blast surface stains. Costs from £69 for half an hour – 1 hour usually recommended (from £132). If AirFlow is unsuccessfully in removing stains, we can investigate tooth whitening to refresh your smile that much more.
A black patch on the tooth
Black patches on the tooth usually indicate a cavity that has grown large or gone ignored allowing bacteria to enter and for decay to grow. The black patch might be followed by tooth sensitivity or pain when biting down and is typically treated with a root canal (from £520), a filling from £150 (depending on the extent of the decay).
Black tartar on teeth
Calculus is a black substance that forms on teeth from a build-up of plaque and tartar. Patients with crooked teeth, for example, might find it difficult to properly clean and floss in these areas which cause a build-up than can only be removed by professional tools and instruments. A deep hygiene clean is recommended – price typically £132 for an hour.
A black dead tooth
If the entire tooth has turned black, it’s a signal of advanced dental decay, where a possible infection is present that has spread to the pulp of the tooth, killing the nerves, and causing the tooth to turn black. In most cases, a black tooth signifies a dead tooth and in cases like these, a root canal (£520), dental crown (from £1,200) or tooth extraction (from £150) might be your only viable option.
Black pockets between teeth
Black pockets between teeth or black triangles form when the gums begin to recede due to advanced gum disease and decay. As gums do not grow back, treatments would involve periodontal therapies to reduce any further gum recession, as well as regular hygiene sessions to control gum disease and cosmetic treatments like bonding to close the gaps.
Don’t ignore black teeth
A black tooth is serious – and if you want to keep your tooth, it’s best to involve a dental professional as soon as possible to prevent decay from overtaking your tooth and rotting it from the inside out. If advanced decay like this is present in the mouth, there’s also the risk that it can spread, which might result in you losing one or more teeth, resulting in more expensive treatments to rehabilitate the mouth.
Most serious cases of black teeth can be treated, but help must be sought before the tooth reaches the point of no return and your only option left is tooth extraction. Ignoring the problem will only make it worse, where the tooth will become more brittle and weaker, putting you at risk for it breaking in your mouth, which would require a more complex extraction.
