Hi Gretchen,

Sometimes a small, non painful, black or purplish spot on the gum near a tooth is either a nevus (a benign overgrowth of cells like a birthmark) or it could be a mercury tattoo. These tattoos are the result of a piece of mercury getting in underneath the gum tissue during the placement or removal of a mercury filling. Because the mercury gets so embedded in the fibers of the gum tissue, it can be impossible to remove all of it without removing a piece of the gum as well.

Also.... sometimes when a tooth has decay near the gum line... the decay can actually travel down the root of the tooth, below the gum. This will appear as a black or dark area on the gum line or lower into the gum.

Hopefully your dentist routinely follows the mercury removal protocol. The dental offices that practice this way on a daily basis will have cleaner air which means the toxins in the air will be lessened for ALL of the patients and staff to breath every day!

Hope this helps!!

Bryanna