Can Black Triangles be Fixed?
Black triangles between teeth at the gum line are a pretty common problem that is not usually cause for concern but a lot of patients find them aesthetically unpleasing. Black triangles can be a result of gum recession which is something that needs to be addressed by your dentist but it might also simply be due to the shape of your teeth. If you have teeth that taper towards the gum line, they aren't going to come into contact with one another and therefore a black triangle can appear.
Other causes of the black triangles between teeth include periodontal disease, smoking, aggressive brushing, and unfortunately, aging. Black triangles can become a problem if they are larger and begin to create a food drive between teeth. At this point, food that gets caught between the teeth can lead to an increased accumulation of plaque which in turn harbors bacteria and causes decay.
Can black triangles be fixed?
Though they are typically a cosmetic issue, Black triangles can be the result or a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Gum recession and bone loss can create black triangles so it is important to bring it to the attention of your dentist to make sure nothing serious is going on.
It is also possible to notice the appearance of black triangles after orthodontic treatment. During treatment, the teeth are constantly shifting and straightening and black triangles that were not there before may appear once the teeth are properly aligned. While you are going through ortho treatment, your doctor will monitor the progress of the space between your teeth and possibly utilize interproximal reduction to decrease the tooth structure between two teeth so that they can come even closer together and close the triangle.
Treatments available to fix black triangles may be an option depending on the cause and severity of your black triangles. One option is dental bonding. Your dentist can use composite bonding to build up inter proximal (the surface between two teeth) tooth structure along the gum line to close the space. For more severe cases, porcelain veneers might be a good option to give your teeth a new shape and close the space.
A hyaluronic acid treatment is also useful in treating black triangles! Hyaluronic acid is injected into the gum tissues to help regenerate the tissue and fill the black triangle with healthy gum tissue.
While there are a number of contributing factors to the formation of black triangles, it is important to bring them to the attention of your dentist to find out why you have them so that your dentist can determine the best treatment plan to restore your smile and make you comfortable and excited to flash a full smile at everyone you meet!