When a Dark Tooth Deserves More Than a Whitening Question
One tooth that gradually looks darker than its neighbors should be examined before you try to bleach it. Color differences can have several explanations, including a past injury or a restoration. Even an injury you barely remember may be useful history for the dentist, so mention it rather than deciding that it happened too long ago to matter.
Describe the change over time
Tell the team whether the tooth darkened suddenly or slowly and whether there has been pain, swelling, or sensitivity. Bring older photographs if they show the difference clearly. The examination helps determine whether the concern is only cosmetic or needs another kind of treatment first.
Choose the color plan after assessment
Ask which approaches could address the particular cause and how an existing filling or crown affects the expected match. Do not repeatedly treat one tooth with extra product to make it catch up. A plan based on the tooth’s condition is more informative than assuming that a darker shade simply requires a stronger version of the same whitening routine.