It bothers you when you smile
If the gap affects how you feel about your smile, that is a reasonable reason to explore options. Tell us which space and what you would like. Ask how composite might change the width of the teeth on either side.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Black Triangle Closure in Puslinch
Not every dark space near the gums needs fixing. If you live out in Puslinch and have been wondering about a gap between your teeth, an assessment can tell you whether it is healthy, whether treatment is worth it, and what leaving it alone would mean.
Do I need to do anything?Find out whether your gap needs attention
Sometimes the best answer is to wait and watch
Plenty of people live comfortably with a small gap near the gums for decades. Others find it bothers them every time they catch their reflection. A black triangle is the dark opening that can appear between adjacent teeth just above the gumline; what produced it, whether tooth shape, tooth position or gum and bone change, determines whether it matters for your health.
When treatment is wanted and the teeth suit it, composite can be added to their sides to make the space smaller. Bonding changes only the teeth. It leaves receded gum and lost bone where they are, and it should never turn an easy-to-clean gap into a tight spot that floss cannot pass.
Out in Puslinch, a trip to the dentist is often planned around farm work, commuting or family schedules, so it helps to know whether a gap is worth acting on. We start by asking how long you have noticed it and whether anything has changed. Then we check your gums and explain the options, including doing nothing.
Questions behind the decision
When a gap is worth a closer look
A quick glance tells us little about cause. It helps to share how long the space has been there, whether it seems to be widening and any discomfort or bleeding nearby.
It makes cleaning harder
Food that keeps lodging or floss that catches can be a practical reason to act. We check the contact and the side shape of the teeth. Any change should make cleaning easier, not leave a ledge that collects debris.
Your gums are changing
Bleeding, recession, tenderness or a tooth that moves are reasons to be seen regardless of appearance. If gum disease is found, it needs treating first; cosmetic closure is a separate question for later.
If none of these apply and your gums are healthy, there may be no need to treat the gap at all. We will be plain about which findings concern your health and which choices are simply yours to make.
If you do decide to treat it
Bonding that keeps things simple
For suitable teeth, a modest amount of composite on the neighbouring surfaces can soften a gap without major work. How much change is possible depends on the starting shapes and the gums. Full closure is not always sensible, and partial reduction often looks more natural.
Before deciding, ask what the teeth would look like afterward, what upkeep is involved and where the limits are. Find out whether bonding would be a single step or part of a larger plan for gum, restorative or orthodontic care.
Patient information: Clinical trial — composite restoration of anterior black triangles · Research on tooth contact, bone level, and interdental gum tissue
Clear expectations
Ask the dentist to name what will change and what will stay the same. Knowing that helps you decide if the result is worth it. A softer shadow may be enough even if fully closing it would make a tooth look too wide.
Little or no removal of enamel
Ask whether any tooth structure would be taken away or whether resin would simply be added. Not all cosmetic options work the same way. It is worth knowing what future repairs could involve.
Monitoring as part of routine care
The finished look is only part of the result. Ask how the contact, gums and material will be reviewed at regular checkups, and whom to call if the area becomes hard to clean.
How the decision is made
Look closely, then choose calmly
You should feel free to ask questions about health and appearance alike. Ask which records would help and whether another clinician's opinion is worth getting.
Assess the space and the gums
Tell us about past orthodontics, gum care, fillings and how long the gap has been there. We examine the teeth and gum around it. X-rays may be needed to judge bone level and the contact point, which cannot be seen from the front.
Talk through every option, including none
Leaving it alone is a real option, alongside gum care, bonding and a referral to an orthodontist. If bonding fits, ask how the teeth would look and how much smaller the space could reasonably become. Confirm the estimate and upkeep before booking anything.
Bond the teeth, if you choose to
With your go-ahead, the enamel is prepared and resin is built up and shaped, each layer hardened by a curing lamp. The contour must suit the neighbouring tooth and the gumline. Ask for an explanation or a pause whenever you like.
Review the result and cleaning routine
After polishing, we test the contact with floss and show you the right aid for the new shape. Together we look at the result, any remaining space and when the area should be checked again.
After bonding, should you choose it
Keep cleaning simple and consistent
The space may be smaller, but it still needs daily care. Use the method we demonstrated, and mention it if your usual aid starts catching or feels tight.
Use the right floss or brush
Ask which aid and size suit the treated area. Slide it through gently rather than forcing it. If floss keeps tearing, book a check so we can look at the contact and surface finish.
Avoid using teeth as tools
Keep bonded teeth away from hard objects, twine, bottle caps and packaging. Tell us about a chip or sharp edge. Please do not file or glue it yourself; the right repair depends on what has happened.
Stay on your checkup schedule
Keep recall and gum appointments as recommended. Mention bleeding, trapped food or a new space. Bonding does not remove the need to watch the gums and bone around your teeth.
Patient information: Cleveland Clinic — gum recession and its assessment
Questions about leaving it or treating it(905) 876-4488
Helping you decide what is right
Ask anything that matters for your smile or your routine. Answers should reflect your situation, not a standard package.
Is it harmful to leave a black triangle untreated?
Not if the gums are healthy and you can keep the area clean. The main reasons to act are appearance, food trapping or a gum problem. An exam helps show which, if any, apply.
How often should an untreated gap be checked?
Usually at your regular checkups. The dentist can note its size and the gum health around it. If you notice bleeding, widening or tenderness between visits, mention it sooner.
Can a black triangle get bigger if I leave it alone?
A stable anatomical gap often stays the same. One caused by gum recession or bone loss may change over time. Monitoring and good gum care help catch changes early.
Is there a reason to have bonding done sooner rather than later?
Rarely for health reasons alone. Timing depends on your preferences, gum stability and other planned dental work. Ask whether any upcoming treatment would affect when bonding makes sense.
Will my teeth look broader if I do get the gap bonded?
They may, since composite adds width to the sides. Discuss how much change you are comfortable with. A partial reduction can sometimes preserve proportions better than full closure.
Should an untreated black triangle be cleaned in a special way?
An interdental brush often suits these spaces better than floss. Ask us to recommend a size and demonstrate how to use it so food and plaque do not build up.
Visiting from Puslinch
Get a clear answer before you decide
Book an appointment at our Bronte Street practice. We will look at the gap, check your gums, discuss any cleaning trouble and explain the options, including leaving it as it is, so you can decide in your own time.
Bonding suits some gaps better than others; much depends on how your teeth are formed and aligned and how healthy the gums are. It cannot take the place of gum disease treatment.
Visit Milton Dental ClinicUnit 1, 342 Bronte St. S, Milton, ON L9T 5B7Get directions
Clinic hours
- Monday–Thursday
- 11am–7pm
- Friday–Sunday
- By appointment only
Areas we serve
- Milton
- Oakville
- Mississauga
- Georgetown
- Halton Hills
- Acton
- Campbellville
- Brampton
- Burlington
- Puslinch
- Rockwood
- Erin
- Caledon
- Etobicoke
- Old Milton
- Bronte Meadows
- Timberlea
- Dorset Park
- Dempsey
- Clarke
- Beaty
- Coates
- Harrison
- Scott
- Willmott
- Ford
- Bowes
- Cobden
- Walker
- Mountain View
- Milton Heights
- Hawthorne Village
- Valley View
- Fallingbrook
- Nassagaweya
- Trafalgar
- Esquesing
- Nelson
- Brookville
- Moffat
- Glen Williams
- Norval
- Limehouse
- Stewarttown
- Ashgrove
- Hornby
- Silver Creek
- Speyside
- Scotch Block
- North Oakville
- River Oaks
- Glen Abbey
- West Oak Trails
- Palermo
- Bronte Creek
- College Park
- Joshua Creek
- Uptown Core
- Preserve
- Iroquois Ridge
- Lisgar
- Meadowvale
- Meadowvale Village
- Churchill Meadows
- Erin Mills
- Central Erin Mills
- Streetsville
- East Credit
- Creditview
- Heartland
- Sheridan
- Mount Pleasant
- Credit Valley
- Huttonville
- Churchville
- Springbrook
- Northwest Brampton
- Bram West
- Fletcher's Meadow
- Fletcher's Creek South
- Alton Village
- Orchard
- Millcroft
- Headon Forest
- Tansley
- Brant Hills
- Tyandaga
- Kilbride
- Lowville
- Aberfoyle
- Morriston
- Arkell
- Hillsburgh
- Freelton
- Carlisle
- Waterdown
- Flamborough
- Mountsberg
