Measurements of the gingival papillae architecture using cone-beam computed tomography in young Chinese adults

• Published in: PeerJ (San Francisco, CA) Vol. 8; p. e10006
• Main Authors: Yang, Gang, Cao, Jie, Hu, Wenjie, Chung, Kwok-Hung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States PeerJ. Ltd 23.09.2020; PeerJ, Inc; PeerJ Inc
• Subjects: Adults; Canine teeth; CAT scans; Computed tomography; Cone-beam computed tomography; Contact point; Dental floss; Dentistry; Elastomers; Endodontics; Esthetic zone; Incisors; Interdental papilla; Measurement; Papillae; Periodontium; Radiology and Medical Imaging; Software; Statistical analysis; Teeth; Tomography; Interdental papilla; Cone-beam computed tomography; Contact point; Esthetic zone
• ISSN: 2167-8359; 2167-8359
• DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10006

The aim of this study was to measure the morphology of interdental papillae (IP) in maxillary anterior teeth using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Twenty-seven periodontally healthy subjects with 135 IP were evaluated by means of periodontal examination and a CBCT scan with an elastomeric matrix containing radiopaque material in position. According to the status of tooth contact and presence of IP, subjects were categorized into three groups: open contact point, complete papillae, and deficient papillae group. The papillae height (PH), facial-lingual thickness (FLT), and interdental distance (IDD) were measured. Data was analyzed with the significance level at  = 0.05. The mean PH values were 4.17 ± 0.51 mm, 3.99 ± 0.61 mm, and 3.99 ± 0.62 mm, for the open contact group, complete papilla, and deficient papilla group, respectively. The PH values of the recorded sites among central incisors, lateral incisors, and canine were 4.13 ± 0.56 mm, 3.87 ± 0. 63 mm, and 4.07 ± 0.58 mm, respectively. No statistically significant differences of the PH values were determined between the above three tested groups as well as between the different sites (  > 0.05). The IDD values obtained from the complete papilla group were significantly lower than the other tested groups (  < 0.05). The contact point condition of upper anterior sextants may not influence the presence and dimension of the IP in periodontally healthy subjects.