A front tooth changing colour — especially darkening to grey, brown, or black — is one of the most alarming dental changes. It's a visual signal that something has changed inside the tooth, and it usually means the nerve inside has died or is dying.
What Causes a Tooth to Turn Black
The most common cause is trauma — a knock or impact that kills the nerve inside the tooth. When the nerve dies, it breaks down and produces pigments that seep into the dentine from the inside. The tooth may darken over weeks or months after the original injury. Even if the tooth didn't crack at the time, the internal damage can be significant.
Internal decay that reaches the pulp chamber can also kill the nerve and stain the tooth from within. This happens when a cavity has been left untreated and has progressed through the enamel and dentine into the nerve.
Old silver (amalgam) fillings can sometimes cause permanent grey staining of the surrounding dentine, though this is less common with modern fillings.
What You Can Do About It
A black front tooth needs assessment — we will take an X-ray to determine whether the nerve is still alive or has died, and whether there's an active infection at the root. Treatment options depend on the diagnosis but often include root canal treatment followed by internal bleaching (a technique that whitens the tooth from the inside) or a crown to restore appearance. In some cases, a veneer can cover the discolouration while preserving more of the natural tooth.
The key point: a dead or dying tooth will not improve on its own. The sooner it's assessed, the more treatment options are available.
If any of this sounds familiar, book an assessment with us. The sooner we take a look, the simpler the treatment is likely to be. Call the practice on 01323 723757 or book online at www.meadsdental.com.