A Non-invasive Radiographic Method for Measurement of Interdental Papilla Height & its Correlation with the Distance between Contact Point & Bone Crest: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Introduction: Numerous surgical & non-surgical techniques have been established to achieve restoration of interdental papillae and to verify these papilla regeneration techniques, different methods of measuring the interdental papilla height have been proposed. Invasive methods like bone probing might cause discomfort to the patients and possibly damage the delicate gingival unit.

Objective: To validate a non-invasive method of measuring the interdental papilla height with radiovisiography (RVG) using a radiopaque material and to correlate the presence or absence of interproximal papilla with the distance between contact point and bone crest.

Methods: Study involved 109 sites in 35 patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis scheduled for periodontal surgery. Radiographically, interdental papilla height was measured from the coronal part of bone crest to the radiopaque material placed on top of the papilla on RVG. Bone probing was performed prior to the surgery. The correlation analysis was performed between Radiographic length and Bone Probing Length. Also, the presence or absence of interproximal papilla was correlated with the distance between contact point and bone crest.

Result & Conclusion: RVG with a radiopaque material may be used for non-invasive measurement of interdental papilla height. Shorter the distance between the contact point to bone crest, more likely interdental papillae are present.