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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

Why Do I Have Black Triangles Between My Teeth?

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If you have black triangles between your teeth, you may be interested in how to reduce them and fill the gaps in your smile. We explain what causes black triangles and which treatment options advanced cosmetic dentists use for spaces between teeth.

What Are Black Triangles Between Teeth?

Black triangles between teeth are triangular spaces near the gumline. The gaps form when you do not have enough gum tissue between your teeth.

What Causes Black Triangles Between Teeth?

Factors that can cause what looks like black triangles between teeth include tooth shape, gum recessions, bone loss, or trauma.

  • Tooth Shape. Misshaped teeth that narrow at the gumline can create gaps that look like black triangles.
  • Gum Recession. Gum recession from aging, gum disease, or aggressive brushing leaves less gum tissue to cover a tooth. Gaps can result.
  • Bone Loss. Advanced gum disease also causes bone deterioration, leaving spaces between teeth.
  • Gum Trauma. Inserting hard or pointy objects between your teeth instead of using dental floss can create gaps between them. Also, aggressive dental work can damage the gum tissue and leave spaces between your teeth.
  • Orthodontics. Although braces or Invisalign may have straightened your teeth, you may notice gaps at your gumline when they are in the correct positions.

What Is the Treatment for Black Triangles?

A porcelain veneer held next to a tooth

Porcelain veneers can close black triangles between teeth

Depending on the condition of your teeth and the extent of black triangles, treatment options may include one or more of the following:

  • Gum Disease Treatment. If gum disease contributes to spaces between your teeth, a dentist must treat it before using cosmetic dentistry to close the gaps.
  • Gum Grafting. Tissue loss may require grafting to fill the gaps and protect your tooth roots.
  • Bone Grafting. If some of the bone that supported your teeth has deteriorated, grafting material can build up the bone.
  • Dental Bonding. An advanced cosmetic dentist can layer dental composite by hand to widen teeth and fill in the black triangles. The composite will match your natural teeth perfectly.
  • Porcelain Veneers. Custom dental porcelain shells fit over the fronts of  the teeth in your smile zone, making them larger where needed to fill the gaps in your smile.

 

Please schedule a consultation with an accredited cosmetic dentist to discuss the cause of the black triangles between your teeth and how to treat them.

 

Lowell, Massachusetts, accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek sponsors this post.

My First Premolar Tooth Is Sensitive to Cold

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My upper left first premolar tooth is sensitive to cold and air. My dentist’s diagnosis with the air test was too fast. She did not tell me what had been causing the sensitivity. I fear an infection will affect the porcelain veneer tooth in front of it. Addison from Tacoma, WA

 

Addison,

Sensitivity in a tooth can be easy to diagnose, and an air test is the primary way to assess it. At other times, it is more complicated

Air Test for Tooth Sensitivity

An air test helps a dentist identify unprotected and sensitive areas. A dentist may apply a desensitizing bonding agent to coat the tooth and minimize sensitivity.

What Causes Tooth Sensitivity to Cold?

The cause of tooth sensitivity depends on several factors, including the type of pain and the tooth’s condition.

Type of pain

  1. Brief pain – Irritated tooth pulp or nerves can cause brief pain. The irritation will heal.
  2. Lingering pain – A tooth infection causes lingering pain. Your dentist may recommend root canal treatment.
  3. Pain around a tooth filling – Bacteria can leak in any space between a tooth and the filling, causing sensitivity.

Tooth condition

  1. New filling – It is normal to feel sensitivity after a new tooth filling. But if bacteria from tooth decay is left behind during the filling process, the tooth can become infected. Root canal treatment will remove the infection.
  2. Tooth decay – Decay or infection can cause sensitivity to heat or cold. It will not spread and infect your porcelain veneer tooth if a dentist catches the decay and treats it.
  3. Fracture – A fracture from trauma or wear can irritate tooth nerves and cause sensitivity. Untreated pulp damage can require root canal treatment and a dental crown.
  4. Gum recession – If your gums pull away from a tooth, it can be sensitive to cold or heat. You can use desensitizing toothpaste, or a dentist may recommend a gum graft or another technique to restore gum tissue.
  5. Worn tooth enamel – Worn tooth enamel exposes dentin (the layer beneath the enamel). Dentin contains small tubes that lead to tooth nerves that can become sensitive.

Dr. Michael Szarek, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, Massachusetts, sponsors this post.

Is It Too Late to Switch Dentists for Bridgework?

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African American man thinking - portraying concern over whether to switch dentists for bridgeworkI got a new Maryland Bridge last October and have had it replaced three times. I need more dental work, but I am afraid that this family dentist will be unable to correct the bridge or complete the other work I need. Is it too late to switch dentists in the middle of my bridgework? – Thank you. Patrick from Freeport, Bahamas

Patrick,

We understand your concerns about your dentist’s inability to provide a stable dental bridge. Problems can occur when a dentist lacks training and experience in cosmetic dentistry. It is wise to switch dentists.

What Is a Maryland Bridge?

A Maryland bridge is a tooth replacement option with replacement teeth suspended between two wing-shaped anchors. A dentist bonds the anchors to the backs of each tooth on either side of the missing one(s).

What Causes a Maryland Bridge to Fail?

When a Maryland bridge fails, possible causes include:

  • Flawed design – Inadequate tooth impressions or faulty construction can cause the bridge to fail. Sometimes, the dental lab can re-etch the metal and correct the flaws.
  • Poor bonding techniques – If your dentist’s bonding techniques are flawed, the wing-shaped anchors will not adhere to the backs of your teeth.

When you tell your dentist you want to switch to another dentist, they have an ethical obligation to send your dental history and records to your new dentist. Your new dentist may decide to take X-rays to ensure your anchor teeth are stable. If your new dentist recommends treatment other than a dental bridge, such as dental implants, please consider the reasons and decide what is best for your long-term oral health.

How Can You Find a New Dentist?

Look for a dentist with post-graduate training and experience in cosmetic dentistry. The dentist can determine why your Maryland bridge failed repeatedly and whether the bridge is the ideal solution for your missing teeth or whether a dental implant is the best solution for your oral health.

Lowell, Massachusetts, accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek sponsors this post.

Do Lemons Whiten or Darken Your Teeth?

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Closeup of a woman's mouth and teeth holding a lemon slice, portraying lemons and teeth whiteningAre lemons safe and effective for teeth whitening? When you search online for natural ways to whiten your teeth, you will find dozens of articles on using lemons. One blog post mentions rubbing lemon essential oil or peels on your teeth.

Do Lemons Work for Teeth Whitening?

Lemons contain citric acid, which one blog post claims kills bacteria to whiten teeth. However, teeth stains come from pigments in what you eat and drink—not bacteria. Regular flossing and brushing remove plaque and bacteria.

Will Lemons Eventually Damage Teeth?

Applying lemons juice, peels, or oils to your teeth will eventually damage them because it repeatedly exposes them to acid. But that is true of any excessive acid exposure on your teeth.

Darker Tooth Enamel

The blog post also mentions that lemons might eventually darken teeth. But the darkening doesn’t come from thinning tooth enamel, as the article suggests. Citric acid etches teeth enamel, roughens it, and causes teeth to attract stains.

Thinner Tooth Enamel

Sucking on lemons or rubbing acidic peels on your teeth will thin tooth enamel. The same occurs with bulimia when stomach acid from vomiting repeatedly comes in contact with teeth.

Beware of Teeth Whitening Kits with Citric Acid

Some teeth whitening kits may contain citric acid to etch tooth enamel, creating a frosty surface on teeth. The whitening kits may include a titanium dioxide substance with a white pigment attached to the etched tooth enamel. When the titanium dioxide wears off in a few days, the result is darker teeth in the long term. However, the tooth enamel is still rough, which increases the risk of attracting stains.

 

Conclusion

Do-it-yourself teeth whitening—including whitening with lemons—is risky. Although Crest Whitestrips will give you some improvement, it is less effective than professional whitening from a dentist.

Why Do I Have Radiating Tooth Pain with No Cavity?

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I have radiating pain in my tooth, but no sign of a cavity exists. I think the worst and am concerned about needing an extraction and dental implant. What else could be causing the problem? Thanks. Gavin K.

 

Gavin – Thank you for contacting Dr. Szarek’s office.

Although you may not see signs of a cavity, the pulp of your tooth may be infected. Cavities or decay begin outside a tooth, but internal root absorption destroys tissue inside a tooth.

What Can Cause Tooth Pain Without a Cavity?

Conditions that can cause tooth pain without a cavity include the following:

  • A fractured tooth can cause persistent tooth pain. A dentist will use a bright light to reveal if your tooth is fractured.
  • Inflamed tissue. The tissue surrounding your tooth may be strained. The pain and inflammation in the tissue can transfer to your tooth.
  • Jaw pain. Facial pain, such as pain in your jaw muscles, can refer to your teeth.
  • Sinus problems can refer dull, aching, or throbbing pain in your teeth.
  • Headaches. Migraine and cluster headaches can refer to deep pain in teeth.
  • Cardiovascular problems. Heart problems can refer pain in the shoulder, neck, and even the jaw and cause pain in your teeth.
  • Nerve pain. Specific neurological issues can cause you to feel pain in your face, teeth, or gums.
Model of a dental implant, including the crown, abutment, and artificial root

Prompt care for tooth pain can decrease the need for removal and a dental implant

Schedule an examination from your dentist for an examination and x-rays. Call a dentist for an appointment. Your dentist will determine if your tooth is causing discomfort. Early detection can prevent the need for tooth removal and a dental implant.

Your dentist may refer you to a primary care doctor and perhaps to a neurological for further tests to identify and treat the cause.

Lowell, Massachusetts, accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek sponsors this post.