Assessment of gingival contours for esthetic diagnosis and treatment: a clinical study.

BACKGROUND

The purposes of this study were to quantify some clinical parameters that are useful as esthetic guidelines when the gingival contour is modified and to compare the left and right sides of the six maxillary anterior teeth.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two hundred and forty interdental papilla sites in 20 healthy patients were evaluated. Interdental papilla heights of maxillary anterior teeth were measured from the gingival zenith, along with clinical crown lengths. Percentages of papilla height to crown length were computed and defined as papilla proportion, mesial papilla proportion (MPP) and distal papilla proportion (DPP).

RESULTS

Mean interdental papilla heights of maxillary teeth was 3.83 mm mesially and 3.8 mm distally. Mean MPP was 43.69% ( n = 120) and DPP was 44.57% ( n = 120). No significant differences were found between MPP and DPP for maxillary incisors ( P ≥ 0.5).

CONCLUSION

Papilla proportions were approximately 44% for all tooth groups. Canines demonstrated a trend toward increased distal papilla heights. In the present study the average MPP and DPP of the central incisor (CI), lateral incisor (LI) and canine (CA) measured were 43%, 41%, 46%, 40%, and 42% 51% respectively.