Background Preservation of the interdental papilla is an essential part of the functional and esthetic rehabilitation of dental treatment. It has been described that thicker gingival tissues are more resistant to recession. The main objective of this investigation was to analyze whether a thin gingival phenotype represents a potential risk indicator affecting interdental papilla fill, height, or width in an esthetic region between maxillary central incisors. The secondary goals were: (1) to analyze parameters describing the papilla—fill, height, width, and effect of papilla base width on the vertical papillary dimension; (2) to determine correlation between different non-invasive measurements of gingival thickness; (3) to compare both sexes. Methods A total of 54 periodontally healthy students (20–30 years old) were included in the study. Gingival thickness was measured using Pirop Ultrasonic Biometer. Gingival phenotype was also assessed by gingival probe transparency. Papilla height and width were measured, and the degree of papilla recession was classified. Results No significant relationship between papilla fill, height, width and gingival probe transparency or gingival thickness was found. Gingival thickness and gingival probe transparency showed a significant relationship (P < 0.001). There was a significant relationship between papilla height and papilla fill (P = 0.028). A papilla which filled the interdental space completely seemed to be shorter. A strong positive correlation between papilla height and papilla width was found (P < 0.0001). The papilla between maxillary central incisors was significantly higher in males (P = 0.01). Conclusion The appearance of the interdental papilla may be influenced by various factors. Within the limitations of this study, the results showed that the thin gingival phenotype alone is no potential risk indicator affecting interdental papilla fill, height, or width. It seems that there may be some effect of papilla base width on its vertical dimension. Gingival probe transparency is a simple reliable method of assessment of gingival thickness with a threshold value of 1-mm gingival thickness between the thick and thin phenotypes.

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Background Preservation of the interdental papilla is an essential part of the functional and esthetic rehabilitation of dental treatment. It has been described that thicker gingival tissues are more resistant to recession. The main objective of this investigation was to analyze whether a thin gingival phenotype represents a potential risk indicator affecting interdental papilla fill, height, or width in an esthetic region between maxillary central incisors. The secondary goals were: 1) to analyze parameters describing the papilla – fill, height, width, and effect of papilla base width on the vertical papillary dimension; 2) to determine correlation between different non-invasive measurements of gingival thickness; 3) to compare both sexes. Methods A total of 54 periodontally healthy students (20–30 years old) were included in the study. Gingival thickness was measured using Pirop Ultrasonic Biometer. Gingival phenotype was also assessed by gingival probe transparency. Papilla height and width were measured, and the degree of papilla recession was classified. Results No significant relationship between papilla fill, height, width and gingival probe transparency or gingival thickness was found. Gingival thickness and gingival probe transparency showed a significant relationship (P < 0.001). There was a significant relationship between papilla height and papilla fill (P = 0.028). A papilla which filled the interdental space completely seemed to be shorter. A strong positive correlation between papilla height and papilla width was found (P <0.0001). The papilla between maxillary central incisors was significantly higher in males (P = 0.01). Conclusion The appearance of the interdental papilla may be influenced by various factors. Within the limitations of this study, the results showed that the thin gingival phenotype alone is no potential risk indicator affecting interdental papilla fill, height, or width. It seems that there may be some effect of papilla base width on its vertical dimension. Gingival probe transparency is a simple reliable method of assessment of gingival thickness with a threshold value of 1-mm gingival thickness between the thick and thin phenotypes.

Background Preservation of the interdental papilla is an essential part of the functional and esthetic rehabilitation of dental treatment. It has been described that thicker gingival tissues are more resistant to recession. The main objective of this investigation was to analyze whether a thin gingival phenotype represents a potential risk factor affecting interdental papilla fill, height, or width in an esthetic region between maxillary central incisors. The secondary goals were: 1) to analyze parameters describing the papilla – fill, height, width, and effect of papilla base width on the vertical papillary dimension; 2) to determine correlation between different non-invasive measurements of gingival thickness; 3) to compare both sexes.Methods A total of 54 periodontally healthy students (20–30 years old) were included in the study. Gingival thickness was measured using Pirop Ultrasonic Biometer. Gingival phenotype was also assessed by gingival probe transparency. Papilla height and width were measured, and the degree of papilla recession was classified.Results No significant correlation between papilla fill, height, width and gingival probe transparency or gingival thickness was found. Gingival thickness and gingival probe transparency showed a significant relationship (P < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between papilla height and papilla fill (P = 0.028). A papilla which filled the interdental space completely seemed to be shorter. A strong positive association between papilla height and papilla width was found (P <0.0001). The papilla between maxillary central incisors was significantly higher in males (P = 0.01).Conclusion The appearance of the interdental papilla may be influenced by various factors. Within the limitations of this study, the results showed that the thin gingival phenotype alone is no potential risk factor affecting interdental papilla fill, height, or width. There seems to be an effect of papilla base width on its vertical dimension. Gingival probe transparency is a simple reliable method of assessment of gingival thickness with a threshold value of 1-mm gingival thickness between the thick and thin phenotypes.

BackgroundPreservation of interdental papilla is an essential part of the functional and esthetic rehabilitation of dental treatment. It was described that thicker gingival tissues are more resistant to recession. The main objective of this investigation was to analyze if the gingival phenotype represents a potential risk factor affecting interdental papilla fill, height, or width in an esthetic region between central maxillary incisors. The secondary goals were: 1) analyze parameters describing papilla and the influence of a wide papilla basis for the vertical papillary dimension; 2) the correlation between different non-invasive measurements of gingival thickness; 3) comparison among both sexes.MethodsTogether, 54 periodontally healthy students (20–30 years old) were included in the study. Gingival thickness was measured using Pirop Ultrasonic Biometer. Phenotype was also assessed by gingival probe transparency. Papilla parameters - height and width of the interdental papilla were measured, and the degree of papilla recession was classified.ResultsNo significant correlation between papilla height, width, or papilla fill and gingival probe transparency or gingival thickness was found. Both methods of assessments of gingival phenotype showed a significant relationship. There was a significant correlation of papilla height and papilla fill. Papillae, which filled the interdental space completely, seem to be shorter. A strong positive association between papilla height and papilla width was revealed. Papillae were significantly higher in males.ConclusionThe appearance of interdental papillae could be influenced by various factors. Within the limitations of this study, results showed no significant correlation between the morphology of interdental papillae and soft tissue thickness. It seems that there is an influence of a wide papilla basis for its vertical dimension.