You’ve had a gap between your two front teeth for as long as you can remember. It always seems to stand out in photos of you. Recently you have also noticed that you have tiny black triangles between a few of your teeth, and you have no idea how they got there. Luckily, your cosmetic dentist in Columbia is here with more information. Discover how they can solve your problems by reading more.
Gaps in Your Smile
The most common kind of gap is one between your two front teeth, also called a diastema. Besides being widely considered unattractive, having large spaces between your teeth is actually detrimental for your oral health. Bits of food can get stuck in there and attract bacteria that cause gum disease and cavities. For this reason, as well as aesthetic ones, you’ll want to get that gap fixed right away, which is where your dentist in Columbia can help.
The fastest and most affordable way to close the gap is with direct bonding. During this procedure, your dentist will sculpt a composite resin onto your tooth to alter its size and shape until it’s more desirable.
Another method, known as Six Month Smiles, takes a bit longer, but will provide the same results. These are a special kind of braces that are only attached to the teeth that show when you smile, which is why treatment can be finished so quickly.
Finally, porcelain veneers can be affixed to your teeth to bridge the gap. These super-thin shells of durable dental porcelain can be bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth to mask all kinds of cosmetic flaws, including unsightly gaps.
Black Triangles Between Your Teeth
These small black gaps in your smile, which your dentist might call “open gingival embrasures,” are typically caused by gum recession. This may be due to gum disease, vigorous tooth brushing, or the natural process of aging. Whatever the reason, these dental black gaps are not considered attractive by many, so you’re probably going to want to get rid of them.
Again, porcelain veneers are a great option here. They can cover up the gap so that no one even knows it’s there. Direct bonding can also close these gaps by filling them with composite resin.
No matter what aesthetic problem you have with your smile, your dentist should have a solution for it. If you have a space or black triangle in your smile, talk to your dentist today!
About the Author
Dr. Victor Beck, Jr. is a cosmetic dentist in Columbia, TN who graduated from the University of Tennessee’s dental school in 1973. He has been serving the Columbia community for more than 40 years now. He dedicates hundreds of hours each year to honing his skills so that his patients’ smiles can shine brightly. If you have spaces between your teeth that you just wish weren’t there, you can contact Dr. Beck at (931) 388-8452.