Do gums grow back to fill the spaces (black triangles) between teeth? (photo)

Question

I went to the dentist a month ago and had a scale and polish to remove tartar. After that, I saw gaps that were never there. I had an x-ray done and, fortunately, I have no bone loss nor periodontal disease. My dentist said that I should worry more about cleaning my teeth properly rather than gum recession and the spaces between my teeth but they look ugly. The first two is quite small but the last one is bigger. Will my gums grow back to fill the spaces? Or at least, the smaller spaces?

Shervin Abbaszadeh, DDS · Answer

If you had very crowded teeth prior to aligning them, the chance of having black triangles is substantial. The gum will not grow back to fill this space.  In fact, the reason for the black triangles is due to bone loss in the area.  I would suggest seeing a periodontist (dental specialist specifically trained to treat gums) for an assessment and to take steps to make sure it does not progress/become worse over time. Sometimes certain grafts can be done to minimize this, but best to speak to the specialist. Also, there are certain ways orthodontically to help reduce or eliminate the appearance of the black triangles. I would ask an orthodontist regarding what could potentially be done for your particular situation.

Do gums grow back to fill the spaces (black triangles) between teeth? (photo)

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