Interdental papilla reconstruction using injectable hyaluronic acid: A 6 month prospective longitudinal clinical study

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) on interdental papilla (IDP) loss in the esthetic zone. Twenty one subjects (14 females and 7 males) from those referred for treatment of IDP loss at Periodontics postgraduate clinics at the Jordan University of Science and Technology. A total of 86 interdental sites (58 sites in the maxillary jaw and 28 sites in the mandibular jaw) were treated and followed up. A 0.2 ml of Hyaluronic acid was injected in each receded IDP site and injections were repeated after 21 days. Papilla sites were evaluated and statistically analyzed. At the 3 week interval the mean reduction of black triangle (BT) height was 0.17 mm (8% reduction) (P-value <0.001), at the 3 month interval there was a mean reduction of BT height of 0.83 mm (39% reduction) (P-value <0.001). At 6 months however, the reduction in BT height was 0.62 mm (29% reduction) (P-value <0.001). Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that the use of commercially available HA gel for the treatment of interdental papillae loss may have promising results over the first 6 months after injection. The maximum improvement in black triangles was at 3 months after injection with a reduction of improvement between 3 and 6 months. Clinical Relevance Helping clinician to take evidence based decision while considering Hyaluronic acid injection as a short term nonsurgical treatment modality for interdental papilla loss.

Keywords: esthetic; gingiva; hyaluronic acid; interdental papilla; recession.