Yes, in most cases a dentist can treat a black tooth. The right treatment depends on why the tooth has turned black. The dentist will need to examine it, and usually take an X-ray, to find the cause.
If the tooth is painful, or your face or gum is swollen, see a dentist urgently. This can be a sign of an abscess (an infection), which needs treatment soon.
Why teeth turn black
Decay. Tooth decay often starts as a white or brown spot. It can turn dark brown or black as it gets worse. A tooth can look black from the outside when there is a lot of decay inside it.
A dead tooth after an injury. A tooth that has been knocked can die, sometimes months or years after the injury. The nerve and blood supply inside the tooth break down, and the tooth turns grey or dark.
Surface stains. Tea, coffee, red wine and smoking can stain teeth. So can some liquid iron supplements and chlorhexidine mouthwash. These stains sit on the surface. The tooth underneath is usually healthy.
Tartar. Hard deposits of tartar (calculus) can build up near the gum line and turn dark. Some children also get dark lines or spots near the gum, called black stain, caused by bacteria.
Stains inside the tooth. Some stains are inside the tooth and do not brush off. For example, tetracycline antibiotics taken while the teeth were still forming in childhood can leave grey or brown bands.
Old fillings. A large silver (amalgam) filling can make a tooth look grey or dark.
How a dentist can treat it
If it is decay: the dentist will check how much healthy tooth is left. A filling or a crown can repair a tooth with enough strong tooth left. If the decay has reached the nerve, you will need root canal treatment first. If too little tooth is left, the tooth may have to come out.
If it is a dead tooth: root canal treatment removes the dead tissue and seals the inside of the tooth. A front tooth can then often be lightened from the inside. This is called internal bleaching: the dentist places a whitening gel inside the tooth. If that is not enough, a veneer (a thin cover bonded to the front of the tooth) or a crown can hide the colour.
If it is surface staining or tartar: a scale and polish by a dentist or hygienist usually removes it. Teeth whitening can then lighten the natural colour of your teeth if you want it. In the UK, only a dentist, or a hygienist or therapist working with a dentist, can legally whiten your teeth. Our teeth whitening London page lists practices.
If the stain is inside the tooth: whitening may help a little. Veneers, composite bonding (tooth-coloured filling material shaped over the tooth) or crowns can cover it.
How much does it cost in London?
On the NHS in England, the charges from 1 April 2026 are:
- Band 1, £27.90: examination, X-rays, and a scale and polish if you need one.
- Band 2, £76.60: fillings, root canal treatment or an extraction.
- Band 3, £332.10: a crown, including any root canal treatment in the same course.
You pay one charge for the whole course of treatment. For example, if a tooth needs root canal treatment and then a crown, you pay £332.10 in total, not both charges. Teeth whitening is usually not available on the NHS, because it is cosmetic. Ask your dentist whether other treatment for a dark tooth can be done on the NHS. Our guide to NHS dental charges explains the bands, and who pays nothing.
Privately, the median lowest published prices at London practices are:
- white filling: £150
- root canal treatment: £450
- crown: £695
- teeth whitening: £375
These are “from” prices. A back tooth with several roots usually costs more for a root canal than a front tooth. Our dental cost guide for London covers more treatments, and our guide to dental crown costs explains crown prices.
If cost is a worry, our guide to affordable dental care in London covers NHS options, dental schools and payment plans. To find an NHS practice that is taking new patients, see our NHS dentists in London page. If you are in pain, our emergency dentist page lists practices with urgent appointments.
Private prices are London medians of each practice’s lowest published price, October 2026. Ask the practice for a written estimate.