Whether by accident or through decay, a damaged tooth may become discoloured and this can vary from a light shade of grey to black.
Any damage to, or problems with, the teeth and gums should be notified to a dentist as soon as possible in order to prevent a minor issue turning into a major problem.
A cracked, chipped or otherwise damaged tooth will not cure itself and the problem could worsen considerably if bacteria is allowed to invade the inside of the tooth and adversely affect the pulp and nerves.
Depending on the cause and the extent of any damage the dentist has a number of treatments available:
- Minor cracks or chips can be quickly touched up and repaired
- More serious internal damage may require root canal treatment
- A dead tooth may have to be extracted and replaced with a crown or bridge
Delaying a visit to the dentist invariably leads to more intense treatment than should be necessary and also increases the chances that your damaged tooth will turn black and possibly require an extraction.
Following any dental treatment, it may take some time for the tooth to return to its natural colour but this is quite normal and you can find out more at https://yourdentalhealthresource.com/how-to-prevent-a-damaged-tooth-from-turning-black/.