ABSENCE OF INTERDENTAL PAPILLA – SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF AVAILABLE THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the treatment alternatives for the absence of interdental papilla (AIP), a clinical situation that can have aesthetic and phonetic impacts. A search for original articles, in humans, reporting more than one case, without language restrictions, dealing with therapeutic alternatives for AIP, was conducted in the databases of MEDLINE and EMBASE. The strategy included [(“interdental papilla” OR “black triangles” OR “open gingival embrasure”) AND (“treatment” OR “therapy” OR “reconstruction”)] up to the year of 2010, resulting in seven studies being included. One study was found upon checking the reference lists and was added, bringing the total to 8 studies. The sample size ranged from two to 19 participants. Six of the eight studies used periodontal surgical techniques and five associated the subepithelial connective tissue graft. Two studies treated AIP with reticulated hyaluronic acid gel. The follow-up time ranged from four to 24 months. The results, in relation to the interdental space area, ranged from 43% to 100% of filling and the reduction of the distance between the contact point and the tip of the papilla ranged from 0.73 to 2.8 mm. Two studies did not describe the results numerically. It was concluded that the therapeutic results presented by the authors were positive. However, it is necessary to take into consideration that the designs of the studies included here have a weak capacity for generating scientific evidence. As studies with a randomized clinical trial design are not conducted to respond to this clinical question, the results of the present study should be used with caution.