Would Cutting Enamel To Remove Black Triangle Weaken my Teeth?

asked 10 months ago by H. Lin in Jersey City, NJ
Latest answer by Andrea Stevens, DMD
Question viewed 734 times
Tags: black triangles, enamel, options, spaces

I am one week away to get my braces off. My teeth looks perfect, except that I have some black triangles formed between my teeth and gum. My orthodontist suggests to cut off part of the enamel to make my teeth narrower and less angled. Then he will close the space between teeth to make the black triangle disappear. My question is that would this procedure (trim some enamel) weaken my teeth and make them very sensitive? Would it be worth it, or would cause more problem in the future? Thanks!

6 answers to Would Cutting Enamel To Remove Black Triangle Weaken my Teeth?

Fixing black triangles

Black triangles can happen for a few reasons,1) triangular-shaped teeth, 2) loss of gum tissue between teeth due to gum disease, 3) roots of teeth tilted away from each other. If the teeth are shaped like triangles, a very slight narrowing of the enamel near the ends, and then continued orthodontic treatment to fully close space between the teeth would work well. If there is a loss of gum tissue, it would first be important to try to find the reason for this and correct it,... more

Andrea Stevens, DMD
Ottawa Cosmetic Dentist

Black triangles can be reduced or eliminated by reducing contact areas between teeth

Your orthodontist has given you very solid advice about the reduction of black triangles. A small amount reduction of enamal at the contact areas between teeth and the closure of the space created will have the effect of the reduction or elimination of the black triangle. Don't worry. The reduction of the enamel will not pose any increased risk of decay. A safe reduction would be no more than 1/4 the thickness of the enamel. more

Kent Lauson, DDS, MS
Denver Orthodontist

www.aotmj.com

A simple solution to a common problem

Excellent question. It is actually one we dentists/orthodontists all asked ourselves. For years we have preached "protect enamel." We warn of wearing down teeth too much. Many bad things can occur if enamel isn't worn down properly; sensitivity, decay, crowns, root canals, etc. There are a few truths to know that will put your mind at ease, when addressing a black triangle. 1) processed foods in our diet 2) cavemen 3) weak enamel 4) fluoride Over the... more

Jacqueline Demko, DDS, MSD
Chesterfield Orthodontist

IPR is quite common in black triangle reduction...

Assuming that you do not too much bone loss (ie periodontal disease), and that your teeth are not too fan shaped, an acceptable amount of enamel reduction between teeth to reshape their contact and make them broader (and then closing the remaining space) can dramatically change the appearance of a black triangle for patients orthodontically

Mazyar Moshiri DMD, MS
Saint Louis Orthodontist

Interproximal reduction is often a good and easy solution to close black triangles.

A slight amount of enamel can be removed from the side of some front teeth in order to help close small "black triangles" . This is a simple solution to a very common problem. As long as proper care is taken, the teeth should not be sensitive or any more prone to decay. This includes only removing a small amount of enamel and re-polishing the surfaces afterwards. A few things to be aware of: It would be wise to treat the areas with a fluoride gel, rinse, or... more

Doug Depew, DMD
Atlanta Orthodontist

www.depewsmiles.com

Use caution when slenderizing your teeth

This would work to eliminate the dark triangles. The concerns that I would have, and I am saying this not having seen you or your teeth, are as follows. * When you shave away enamel, you could cause tooth sensitivity if too much enamel is removed. As long as you don't do more than about 1/2 mm you should be OK. * The bigger concern I would have is that by narrowing the teeth, you will have to retract them to close the spaces. ... more

Martin Frankel, DDS
Toronto Cosmetic Dentist

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