title: Factors associated with the appearance of gingival papillae.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors associated with the fill of inter-dental spaces by gingival papillae.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-six adult subjects were evaluated. Papilla score (PS), tooth form/shape, interproximal contact length and gingival thickness were recorded for 672 maxillary anterior and first pre-molar interproximal sites. Statistical analyses included a non-parametric chi(2) test, anova, the Mixed Procedure for SAS and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Papilla deficiency was more frequent in older subjects (p<0.05), as papilla height decreased 0.012 mm with each year of increasing age (p<0.05). Competent papillae (complete fill inter-dentally) were associated with: (1) crown width: length >or=0.87; (2) proximal contact length >or=2.8 mm; (3) bone crest-contact point <or=5 mm; and (4) interproximal gingival tissue thickness >or=1.5 mm. Gingival thickness correlated negatively with PS (r=-0.37 to -0.54) and positively with tissue height (r=0.23-0.43). Tooth form (i.e. crown width to length ratio) correlated negatively with PS (r=-0.37 to -0.61). Other parameters failed to show any significant effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gingival papilla appearance was associated significantly with subject age, tooth form/shape, proximal contact length, crestal bone height and interproximal gingival thickness.
authors.affiliation: Private practice, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Yiu Cheung
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Eber
authors.forename: Yi-Pin
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Shotwell
authors.forename: Hom-Lay
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000150:complications; D004846:Epithelial Attachment / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005889:Gingival Recession / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D055815:Young Adult