Factors influencing the presence of interproximal dental papillae between maxillary anterior teeth.
BACKGROUND
The presence of interdental papillae in the maxillary anterior region plays a key esthetic role. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of demographic variables, such as gender and ages, and radiographic measurements of interdental area anatomy on the presence of interdental papillae.


METHODS
Periapical radiographs of 102 interdental papillae between maxillary anterior teeth were obtained in 30 adults who had fully erupted permanent dentition, healthy gingiva, and well-aligned maxillary anterior teeth. A radiopaque material was placed on the tip of the interdental papilla and the mucogingival junction. Radiographic measurements of tooth shape, alveolar bone level, and interdental space anatomy were undertaken using computer software.


RESULTS
When each factor was evaluated individually, the shorter the distance between the contact bone and alveolar bone crest, the shorter the distance between two adjacent teeth, and the smaller the embrasure area, the more likely interdental papillae were present. Interdental papillae were more likely to be present between teeth with a rectangular tooth form. When all factors were evaluated together, the presence of interdental papillae was only significantly related to the distance from the contact point to the bone crest (P = 0.038).


CONCLUSIONS
In the anterior maxillary region, the shorter the distance between the contact point to the bone crest, the more likely interdental papillae were present.
Department of Dentistry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.
Min-Chieh
MC
Chen
Yu-Fang
YF
Liao
Chiu-Po
CP
Chan
Yen-Chen
YC
Ku
Whei-Lin
WL
Pan
Yu-Kang
YK
Tu
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D008875:Middle Aged; D009811:Odontometry; D012737:Sex Factors