I have always envied those around me who seem to always have perfect smiles without even trying, because I feel like I was born with "bad teeth." While my teeth are in great shape now, it is only because I take great care to visit the dentist every six months for a check-up and cleaning and maintain good oral hygiene habits at home. While I used to get a lot of cavities, even though I thought I was doing "everything right" to keep them away, I am proud to say that I have been cavity-free for a couple of years now! I put a lot of research into what daily habits can wreak havoc on my teeth, and I thought it would be a shame not to share what has helped me with others who need the advice. I plan to post many oral health tips on my new blog!
If you suffer from a low or receding gumline, you may be self-conscious about the small black triangles that can form in the gaps between the bases of your teeth. Formally known as open gingival embrasures, these unsightly gaps not only draw attention to the flaws in your smile, but they can also decrease your overall dental health by trapping food and harboring plaque. Depending on the severity of the underlying condition that caused these gaps and the opinion of your cosmetic dentist, you may be eligible for one of the four following corrective procedures.
Treating Any Underlying Gum Disease
Black triangles can occur due to the natural shape of your gums and teeth or improperly fitted orthodontics, but they are frequently caused by receding gums due to periodontitis. Before you can reasonably treat the symptom, you will need to treat the gum disease beneath it. Sometimes, this step alone is enough to help your gums grow back up and over the offending gaps, but additional measures may need to be taken. Once your gums are healthy and stable, you and your dentist will be able to reassess the triangle gaps and formulate a plan from there.
Concealing Gaps Through Bonding
If the gaps are small and not widely distributed, basic resin bonding can be used to conceal them quickly and inexpensively. During this procedure, resin is carefully sculpted and bonded to your teeth, then polished and shaped to adhere seamlessly to the real tooth. This allows your dentist to effectively expand your teeth to fill in the gaps in a way that both looks and feels natural.
Masking With Veneers
Another popular treatment option for black triangle gaps and any other dental imperfections is to simply cover them up with veneers. Veneers act like a false front for your real teeth, fitted to each individual tooth to augment its size, shape and whiteness without feeling clunky or artificial. Patients who are also seeking to treat other cosmetic blemishes in their teeth or who are ineligible for bonding should consider veneers as a minimally invasive and comprehensive solution to the issue.
Strengthening Your Teeth and Gums Through Grafting
To truly correct teeth with triangular gaps, it is often necessary to cover the exposed triangles with additional gum tissue. This tissue is grafted in from a less visible part of your mouth, and it is usually accompanied by bone grafts necessary to shore up support for your teeth and new gum line. Because of the invasive nature of this procedure to achieve the same results as resin bonding or veneers, it is typically held as a last resort option for very severe cases. If you are tired of feeling self-conscious every time you smile, schedule an appointment with your local cosmetic dentist to find a solution today.
Share17 June 2016
