Black staining: an overview for the general dental practitioner

Black stain' is a poorly understood form of tooth discolouration by dental professionals.

Its aetiology is not completely understood, although the black pigmentation is likely to be an insoluble ferric salt precipitate, produced by chromogenic bacteria.

Treatment should involve a combination of reassurance to the patient/parents, with a minimally invasive approach to remove staining, while avoiding iatrogenic damage.