Can Black Triangles be Fixed?
A common problem among patients of all ages is black triangles between teeth at the gum line. Fortunately, they are not usually cause for concern but a lot of patients find them aesthetically unpleasing. In some cases, 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 will not come into contact with one another, leading to a black triangle.
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 trap between teeth. Food that gets caught between the teeth can lead to an increased accumulation of plaque which in turn harbors enamel-eating bacteria and causes decay.
What causes black triangles?
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 they are not the result of an underlying medical condition.
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 spaces between your teeth and possibly utilize interproximal reduction (IPR) to remove some tooth structure between two teeth so that they can come even closer together and close the triangle. IPR is very effective during orthodontic treatment and the amount of enamel lost is so minimal that it does not cause any issues.
Can black triangles be fixed?
There are a few treatments available to fix black triangles, depending on the cause and severity. One option is dental bonding. Your dentist can use composite bonding to build up the interproximal surface between two teeth along the gum line to close the space. For more severe cases, porcelain veneers might be a good option to give your teeth a whole new shape and close the space.
Hyaluronic acid 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. Fill injections can be used but those typically last only 6 months or so, at which point you will need to have the injections again to keep your results.
Whether or not your black triangles bother you, it is important to bring them to the attention of your dentist as soon as you notice them so they determine the cause and give you the best treatment plan for your individual case.