Created 8/9/2023
Updated 12/15/2023
Have you ever wondered why sometimes small black triangles appear between the teeth? Known as dental pockets or gingival pockets, these spaces can have congenital causes or, in most cases, be part of the consequences of periodontal disease. From our dental clinic in Ibiza, we want to tell you the possible causes of the pockets so that you understand, even more, the anatomy of the smile and you can take care of your oral health with more information.
Why do dental pockets appear?
In general, there are two main reasons why a patient may have a pocket. They are listed below.
Natural shape of teeth
Occasionally, people have teeth whose shape is conducive to the appearance of black triangles in the dentition. That is to say, the anatomy of the teeth makes it impossible for them, once aligned and without malposition problems, to fit side by side in an esthetic way.
In this case, there is nothing to fear, since the gaps appear naturally and can be easily solved through treatments aimed at harmonizing the dentition, such as orthodontics and/or dental veneers.
Side effects of gum disease
Another of the most frequent reasons is gum recession due to periodontitis. Dental pieces have by nature and oral anatomy a certain distance between them. We do not notice it, because it is covered by the gums, but, when this pink tissue is displaced by the bacterial condition, the spaces between the roots of the teeth become visible. If this is the case, it is possible to resort to gum grafting or esthetic treatment to solve it.
If your smile has pockets and you want to get rid of them, count on IMOI Dental Clinic and the experience of our professionals. Book a dental appointment at our clinic to receive a diagnosis that tells us the best way to correct your dentition.
What are the possible solutions to black spaces between teeth?
In dentistry there is no single treatment to regenerate the gingival pockets and make the gum papillae grow and hide the bone loss between the teeth. In spite of this, the combination of several alternative but effective treatments can solve the black spaces between the teeth, reducing the gaps to a minimum.
These solutions combine treatments from the following specialties. Periodontics treats the gum disease present in the patient’s mouth and prevents the black spaces from getting bigger and bigger. For this reason, periodontists are usually the first ones to treat the patient to stop periodontal disease.
Once the patient’s gums have been treated, we have two treatment options: dental esthetics or orthodontics. In order to decide on the best treatment option, a complete clinical history and a detailed examination of the black spaces are essential.
If we opt for dental esthetic treatments we will have to plan and place porcelain or composite veneers that will allow us to close the black spaces, improve the color and anatomy of the teeth and thus improve the smile.
If we choose orthodontics, we can close these black spaces by moving the teeth with light forces for a short time. For this, orthodontists place fixed brackets or use invisible aligners. It is very important to maintain good hygiene and follow monthly check-ups with orthodontists and periodontists when necessary.
Trust IMOI and start smiling with confidence from the dental experts.
At IMOI Barcelona and IMOI Ibiza, we follow editorial principles that guarantee the authenticity of all the information we disseminate. If you are interested in learning more about how we ensure that our content is always up-to-date and accurately supported, we invite you to review our editorial commitment.
This article has been supervised by Dr. Ferran Novell Costa and Dra. Erjona Demiraj, specialists in Dental Health and Dental Aesthetics treatments. Responsible for the treatments provided at IMOI Barcelona and IMOI Ibiza and for the supervision and/or updating of the contents of this blog entry. (7/11/2023). The recommendations described are not generic and do not replace the diagnosis and evaluation of a professional in a dental office. If you want us to clarify any aspect or you want a personalized diagnosis and advice we recommend you to come to our dental clinics.
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