Relationship of Distance Between Contact Point to Attachment Level with the Presence of Interdental Papilla in Maxillary Central Incisors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate an association of contact point-attachment level distance (CP-AL) with presence/absence of interdental papilla between maxillary central incisors. CP-AL distance may be a non-invasive representative for the classic contact point-bone crest distance (CP-BC) which is being used to determine the presence of interdental papilla as per existing knowledge. Total 195 systemically healthy patients were recruited with age ranging 18-45years in this cross-sectional study. Clinical parameters included were CP-BC, CP-AL, contact point-papilla tip (CP-PT), contact point- interproximal cementoenamel junction (CP-iCEJ), and periodontal phenotype (PP). The height of black triangle (CP-PT) and presence/absence of papilla, both were statistically significantly and positively correlated with CP-BC and CP-AL distance. The statistically significant and positive association was also observed between CP-AL distance and height of black triangle. The results suggested that increase in 0.57mm of CP-AL distance resulted in 1unit increase in measurement of height of black triangle. Furthermore, receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed the threshold value of CP-AL distance at or above which there would be presence of black triangle was 3.5mm. Contact point-attachment level distance which is a non-invasive method could be used as an alternative to contact point-bone crest distance to assess papilla presence/absence.

Keywords: central incisor; gingiva; papilla.