Causes of Gaps Between Teeth After Orthodontic Treatment and How to Resolve Them with Cosmetic Treatment: A to Z

Hello.

At The Square Dental Clinic,

we pursue highly complete treatments

that harmonize aesthetics and function.

After investing a great deal of time and no small amount of money in orthodontic treatment, you finally got your teeth aligned...

If gaps between your teeth appear after orthodontic treatment, it can understandably feel extremely unfair and upsetting.

Many people blame themselves, believing that the problem was caused by insufficient care.

To give you the conclusion first,

this does not mean that the treatment was performed incorrectly, nor is it a side effect caused by inadequate patient care.

Gaps between the teeth after orthodontic treatment are simply structural spaces that were hidden becoming noticeable as the teeth move into their proper positions.

In today’s column,

the causes that can look like gaps between the teeth after orthodontic treatment

and

how to resolve them

with cosmetic treatment

will be clearly organized and explained. :)

What causes “gaps between the teeth after orthodontic treatment”?

The spaces between teeth are normally filled tightly by pointed gum tissue.

However, if a black triangle appears between the gums after you remove your orthodontic appliance,

in other words, if a “black triangle” becomes prominent,

as described above, it is highly likely to be an anatomical phenomenon that appears as the teeth become evenly aligned.

Our teeth are not shaped like square, evenly formed bricks.

They have a shape closer to a triangle, becoming narrower toward the roots.

The crown portions are in close contact with one another,

but spaces can inevitably remain near the roots.

Before orthodontic treatment, when the teeth were crooked and overlapping,

swollen gums, tartar, and plaque filled these spaces, so they went unnoticed.

Then, as orthodontic treatment straightens the teeth and gum inflammation subsides,

the empty spaces finally become visible.

In other words, gaps between the teeth after orthodontic treatment are a natural part of the process in which the teeth move into their normal positions and previously hidden spaces are revealed.

How can spaces be treated with cosmetic dentistry?

Following on from the explanation above,

some of you may think, “I understand that it is normal, but the spaces still look too unattractive.”

• If you are unhappy with the appearance of spaces that developed after orthodontic treatment, or

• if the spaces are large enough to cause discomfort,

cosmetic treatment to fill them may be a good option.

If the spaces are too large, food debris can easily become trapped, and problems such as air escaping during speech may occur.

In this case, you can consider the following three alternatives.

1. Orthodontic retreatment with interproximal reduction

The sides of the teeth are reshaped very slightly, after which the spaces are closed by bringing the teeth closer together again.

2. Composite resin

This procedure fills the spaces with a tooth-colored composite resin material.

It can be completed on the same day and has the advantage of being relatively affordable,

but it may become discolored or worn over time.

3. Veneers or Minish

When the spaces are somewhat wide, or when you also want to improve the shape and color of the teeth themselves,

cosmetic treatments such as veneers or Minish, which place restorations over the teeth of concern, may be recommended.

| * Before-and-after case of black triangle Minish treatment ​ * (Left) 25. 02. 04 / (Right) 25. 03. 31 ​ * These photos were published with the patient’s consent. ​ * All treatments may have side effects, so please make your decision after sufficient discussion with your dentist. |

What should be considered before cosmetic treatment?

Just because you dislike the spaces between your teeth,

if you proceed straight to cosmetic treatment that fills or covers them without first considering the underlying factors,

the restorations may break quickly or the teeth may separate again, resulting in side effects.

For a satisfactory outcome, be sure to check the following criteria before treatment.

| 🦷 Gum health |

If the spaces are filled while the gums are swollen due to inflammation,

new gaps may form under the restorations later as the swelling subsides.

| 🦷 Whether orthodontic treatment is fully complete |

If the teeth have not settled stably

and are still shifting, even slightly, the restorations may separate again.

| 🦷 Occlusal pressure |

If the force of the lower teeth hitting the inner surfaces of the upper teeth is too strong,

the restorations may come off or break, no matter how durable they are.

Therefore, it is important to accurately diagnose the bite and alignment of the teeth,

and to find a dental clinic with specialists in orthodontics and integrated dentistry who are available on-site and can carefully examine the condition of your jawbone and any inflammation.

This can help reduce concerns about side effects and bring you one step closer to receiving treatment suited to you.

[Related articles you may find helpful]

This article was written for those who may have felt upset by the spaces that appeared after completing the demanding process of orthodontic treatment.

Here is a summary of the key points discussed today.

1️⃣ Black triangles visible after orthodontic treatment are not a side effect; they occur when previously hidden spaces become visible as the teeth are evenly straightened.
2️⃣ If they are unattractive or frequently trap food, improvement may be possible through cosmetic treatments such as orthodontic retreatment, composite resin, or veneers/Minish.
3️⃣ For satisfactory results, we recommend choosing a dental clinic where specialists with expertise in each field are available on-site.

If you have any further questions for us, you are welcome to ask in the comments or through Naver TalkTalk. ^^

Beyond creating a beautiful first impression,

we are The Square Dental Clinic,

focused on helping patients restore their quality of life

and confidence.

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| This article was written in compliance with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Service Act so that you can obtain accurate information. ​ ​ Rather than simply promoting our services, we wanted to transparently share what takes place in an actual clinical setting. ​ ​ Instead of contacting us immediately after reading this article, it is perfectly sufficient simply to take away accurate information. |