RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The presence of a normal papilla is crucial to avoid the unpleasant esthetic defects that are of major concern to periodontists, restorative dentists, and patients. During the course of progressive periodontitis and following periodontal treatment, it is not uncommon to have a partial loss of the interdental papilla. This loss can lead to an unesthetic gingival appearance. This study evaluated different anatomic variables in an effort to determine their role in the papillary appearance of maxillary incisors. METHODS: A total of 178 interdental embrasures in 58 patients were selected randomly for examination. For each patient, a digital photograph and a modified periapical radiograph of the interdental embrasure of the four maxillary incisors were taken by using a special metric device fixed to a centrator as a reference marker. Clinical and radiographic data were obtained for the distance from the contact point to the alveolar crest and for the interradicular distance. We used a classification system with regard to peri-implant soft tissue based on esthetic assessments related to the space between reference lines through the highest gingival curvature of the crown-tooth margin and the contact point. RESULTS: In the group of interdental sites with an interradicular distance of less than approximately 2.4 mm, an increase in the distance between the contact point and the bone crest corresponded to a marked increase in the interdental black triangle's dimensions and, therefore, a less esthetic smile. In particular, when the interradicular distance was >2.4 mm, we statistically estimated that the other anatomic variable considered, the distance from the contact point to the alveolar crest, lost its influence on whether the interdental papilla would be present or absent. CONCLUSION: The interradicular distance and the distance between the contact point and the alveolar crest have independent and combined effects on the presence or absence of the interdental papilla.