RESUMO
AIM: The gingival architecture is determined by the spatial orientation of the gingival zenith (GZ) and the inter-dental papillae (IP). Among the factors commonly associated with the presence and morphology of the IP, the contact point (CP) and the inter-dental distance relationships have been considered the most important. The objective of the present controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the role of the CP in determining the clinical and morphometric parameters of the inter-dental papilla. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The inter-dental papillae of sixty patients with unilateral diastemas were evaluated by means of periodontal probing, transgingival probing, the papilla presence index and morphometric measurement with a digital calliper and were analysed with a paired t-test, with significance set at alpha value of 0.05 or lower. RESULTS: All the papillae exhibited PPI score = 1. Papillary measurements were significantly increased in the experimental (diastema) group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with gingival health, the dimensions of the IP are significantly increased in teeth without a contact point in comparison with their contra-lateral controls with a contact point. The contact point does not determine the presence and size of the inter-dental papilla, in patients with a healthy gingiva and without periodontal attachment loss.
