Periodontics · single question
A patient underwent orthodontic treatment and now has black triangles (open gingival embrasures) between anterior teeth. What is the recommended treatment?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. IPR (interproximal reduction) and/or cosmetic bonding to reshape teeth and move contact apically
Black triangles (open gingival embrasures) post-orthodontics result from: triangular tooth shapes, loss of interdental papilla height, or interproximal bone loss. The two primary treatments are: (1) IPR (interproximal reduction) — reshaping tooth to be more rectangular and moving the contact point apically closer to the bone; (2) Cosmetic bonding — adding composite to widen the contact area. Both strategies aim to bring the contact point closer to the bone level, allowing papilla to fill the space.
- A. ❌ Black triangles rarely resolve spontaneously — active treatment is needed.
- B. ❌ Extraction and reimplantation has no role in treating black triangles.
- C. ✅ CORRECT – IPR reshapes teeth to bring contacts apically; cosmetic bonding widens contacts. Both reduce black triangle appearance.
- D. ❌ Gingival grafting addresses recession but does not restore interdental papilla effectively in most cases.