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Fixing Black Triangles Between Teeth

Love Yourself, Love Your Smile

A woman looking for black triangles between teeth
  • Dr. Monica Madan
  • June 1, 2023

Have you noticed any small, triangular gaps along the gum line of your smile? Commonly called “black triangles” and professionally called “open gingival embrasures,” these gaps can occur for various reasons at any age. 

For example, many people develop black triangles between their teeth at an early age simply because of genetics. From person to person, teeth come in different shapes and sizes. If you have naturally triangular teeth (more mass at the crown, less mass toward the root), you may experience black triangles during childhood. In other cases, gum recession and dental trauma can cause black triangles in adults and seniors. 

At Beverly Hills Orthodontics®, black triangles between teeth is one of the many conditions that we treat. If you’ve been considering treatment for your smile gaps, keep reading to learn more about black triangles, what causes them, and what your available treatment options are. 

Why Black Triangles Form In Our Smiles

Open gingival embrasures can develop in your smile at any age. For many patients, multiple factors influence the development of these black triangles, which is why they tend to emerge later in life. 

As we mentioned earlier, genetics plays a significant role in black triangle development. Not only can your tooth shape or size create natural gaps, but alignment issues and crowding can also increase these gaps over time until they become highly noticeable black triangles. 

Malocclusions (e.g., underbite, overbite, crossbite, etc.) and dental crowding can cause teeth to push against one another and apply uneven pressure on the gums. These factors lead to gum recession, which results in black triangles. In addition to genetics, black triangles can form or worsen because of:

  • Natural gum recession and bone loss caused by aging
  • Periodontal disease and similar gum issues
  • Physical trauma to the gums, teeth, jaw, etc.
  • Weakened jawbone due to tooth loss
  • Poor oral hygiene

Finally, black triangles may appear at the end of orthodontic care. Orthodontic appliances like Invisalign and braces do not actually create black triangles. However, by straightening crooked teeth, they sometimes reveal gaps that would have previously existed if the teeth had been perfectly aligned, to begin with.

For Treating Black Triangles Between Teeth
Orthodontics Is the Gold Standard

Although cosmetic dentistry uses methods like bonding for fast, aesthetic results, the solution is far from permanent. If you want to get rid of black triangles between your teeth, you’ll need to make an appointment with an orthodontist. 

Orthodontic Treatment

  1. While cosmetic treatments aim to cover up black triangles or fill them with composite material, orthodontic treatments completely eliminate them by physically bringing teeth closer together. 
  2. Typically, more triangular-shaped teeth △△ tend to have larger black triangles associated with them.
  3. The first step in black triangle orthodontic treatment is a polishing procedure known as interproximal reduction (IPR). In simple terms, IPR is a procedure in which an orthodontist polishes away a small portion of tooth enamel to create space between teeth.

Beverly Hills Orthodontics most often performs IPR with a small polishing strip that doesn’t cause any patient discomfort. We use it to remove just a few microns of enamel from the problematic teeth so that the triangular areas take a more rectangular shape. 

After the teeth have received IPR, we use either Invisalign or braces to bring them together. Thanks to IPR, once the clear aligners/braces successfully realign the smile after 6-12 months, the newly reshaped teeth will fit snugly next to each other with little-to-no gap. Most black triangle patients qualify for both Invisalign and braces and can select whichever option best suits their lifestyle. 

Drawbacks of Cosmetic “Fixes”

  1. May not provide the look you want. Bonding can look bad because it’s very difficult to fill in the black triangle space and ensure the teeth maintain a natural shape.
  2. Restoration (bonding) tends not to last. It is almost impossible to keep the area along the gumline dry enough to place the composite bonding material.

Industry experts frequently agree that orthodontics is a better black triangle treatment route than cosmetic dentistry because:

  • It significantly reduces black triangles and retains the natural shape of your teeth.
  • Gums respond better to orthodontic treatments to reposition the teeth than they do to staying in close, perpetual contact with imperfect dental bonding.
  • Beyond improving your personal aesthetics, orthodontic care provides patients with numerous health benefits.

However, there is a limit to what IPR and Invisalign/braces can accomplish. After all, you can only remove so much enamel before sensitivity becomes a problem. In extreme black triangle cases—where gaps are much larger than normal—IPR may not be enough to fully eliminate the triangular void. In these severe cases, cosmetic dentistry is the only way forward. The table below offers a quick summary of these points.

 

Comparing Black Triangle Treatment Options

 

Orthodontic  Cosmetic
Options
  • IPR with Invisalign
  • IPR with braces
  • Dental bonding
  • Veneers
Pros
  • Permanent solution
  • Potential health benefits
  • Comfortable for gums
  • Quick correction
Cons
  • More time-consuming than cosmetic dentistry
  • Not an option for severe cases
  • Poor/ unnatural aesthetic results
  • Frequent touch-ups & corrections
  • Cosmetic solution ONLY
  • Periodic replacements required
  • Only highly skilled dentists can perform treatment

Unhappy with the Black Triangles Between Your Teeth?
Beverly Hills Orthodontics Can Help

Orthodontist Dr. Madan working to eliminate black triangles between teeth

Although black triangles are physically small, they can be extremely noticeable to yourself and others. Thankfully, they are easy to correct if you partner with a skilled orthodontist like Beverly Hills Orthodontics’ own Dr. Monica Madan. 

Recognized as one of the top Invisalign providers in the country, BHO has been treating patients across Los Angeles since we opened our doors in 2008. Located in Beverly Hills, Studio City, Alhambra, and Downtown LA, Beverly Hills Orthodontics treats a wide variety of alignment issues, including black triangles. 

We specialize in creating unique care plans that honor the preferences, schedules, and priorities of each individual patient. Within a matter of months, we can eliminate the black triangles between your teeth and provide you with a flawless smile that will last a lifetime. Contact us today to learn more.

Considering treatment for the black triangles between your teeth? Call or text us at 310-785-0770 or visit our contact page to book an appointment.

Your Smile Is More than just two rows of teeth - it's how you show your personality to the world.

Let Dr. Madan and her team help you help keep your smile looking (and feeling) better than ever.
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We are thankful for the opportunity to serve our communities with the highest quality care. Check out what our patients are saying about their 5-star experience with us!

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Lizzie S.
No one has scheduled my appointment better than Anthony and Dr. Madden is the best doctor!!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful recommendation, Lizzie! We're thrilled to be considered the best in the area. Your support means a lot to us!
Alessandra M.
Dr Monica and her staff are just the absolute best. Office is beautiful and clean. Staff is great and kind and have never had any issues whatsoever. The work that she and her staff members do is just 10/10. They are also so welcoming and genuinely kind. Dr Monica and even members of her staff like Anthony will have genuine conversations with you and make you feel the most comfortable. Even during a treatment that many (including myself) are not fond of. (Anything dental related can be scary but they truly put you at peace.) I’m so happy that I made the decision to proceed with treatment here. All questions are always answered. Concerns dealt with. And treatment is impeccable. The results I already have solidify why I’m so happy with my decision to get work done here.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review, Alessandra. We're thrilled to hear you had such a positive experience. Our team is dedicated to making every visit comfortable and welcoming. Your satisfaction is our priority!
nathalie K.
Very friendly staff & very accommoding. They are very understanding. Everyone here is super welcoming and very nice! Can't wait to see my next appointment.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your glowing review, Nathalie! We’re thrilled to hear that you found our team friendly and accommodating. We look forward to welcoming you back at your next appointment!
T W.
I highly recommend Dr Madan at BHO for all of your orthodontic needs. Between her warm personality, knowledge and skill you will have to look no further.
This office constantly has amazing offers and specials that make their treatment pricing EXTREMELY competitive. Trust me, as I’ve gotten consults from just about every provider in town. I am seeing unbelievable results with my Invisalign treatment only a few weeks in. Dr Madan was the obvious choice, as she made this process as minimally invasive as possible. I have been to multiple of her offices and they all are pristine. I would recommend to anyone in the LA area looking for the best provider for their orthodontist!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your glowing review! We're delighted you're experiencing exceptional results with your Invisalign treatment. Dr. Madan strives to create a comfortable and effective orthodontic experience for every patient.
Eva P.
So far I am having an amazing experience with Dr Madan and BHO. I’ve consulted with many Orthos over the years for Invisalign. Almost all said I would have to extract a tooth to solve over crowding issue on bottom teeth. Within literally 5 weeks of Invisalign, my bottom teeth are almost completely straightened out already. I cannot believe how fast this treatment is working. Not to mention, I had tradition braces in the past and my teeth fully reverted to their original form. It took over 4 years to correct my crowding with braces the first time, back in the day.

How incredible Dr Madan and her staff is , along with her immaculate offices deserves its own second review. 10/10 experience so far highly recommend them!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Eva! We're thrilled to hear about your positive experience with Dr. Madan and our team. It’s rewarding to see your progress with Invisalign. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
Anahit M.
I’ve had a good experience here. I have been coming here for about two years and I’ve seen great progress.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback, Anahit! We're thrilled to hear about your positive experience and the progress you've made over the past two years. Your support means a lot to us!
valeria
Overall the best experience, definitely helped me get my self confidence back with my smile!!🥰
Response from the owner:We truly appreciate your feedback, Val! It’s fantastic to know that we positively impacted your self-confidence and smile. Thank you for choosing us and sharing your experience! We’re here for you anytime you need us.
Bardia A.
Monica and her team are so nice and professional. The experience has always been welcoming and the office was always clean and I felt totally comfortable coming in during the pandemic. They took every precaution and were so great to work with.
Response from the owner:We appreciate you taking the time to leave us feedback on your experience. We work very hard every day to exceed our patients’ expectations!
Justin H.
We have loved working with the team at Beverly Hills Orthodontics. We had 2 kids go through the Invisalign plan and they were always so nice and helpful in explaining everything. What a difference the program made!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the positive feedback. We are honored to serve each and every one of our patients!
Jade L.
Lose this dentist, the doctors are really nice and always answer my questions regarding my teeth.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words about us and our staff!
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