Definition and Function of Interdental Papilla
- Part of the gums that exists coronal to the free gingival margin on mesial and distal surfaces of teeth
- Fills in the area between teeth to prevent food impaction
- Assumes conical shape for anterior teeth and blunted shape buccolingually for posterior teeth
- Missing papilla visible as small triangular gap between adjacent teeth
- Can sometimes be corrected with orthodontic treatment
Factors Affecting Presence of Interdental Papilla
- Relationship of interdental bone to interproximal contact point determines presence of papilla
- If >8mm between interdental bone and interproximal contact, usually no papilla present
- If distance is 5mm or less, then a papilla will almost always be present
Enlargement of Interdental Papilla
- Enlargement can occur with active periodontal disease
- Both marginal gingiva and attached gingiva can become enlarged
- Enlargement results from edema in lamina propria caused by inflammatory response
Interdental Papilla and Dental Papilla
- Interdental papilla should not be confused with dental papilla
- Dental papilla is a different anatomical structure
Additional Information
- Interdental papilla is also known as interdental gingiva
- Anatomical terminology: papilla gingivalis
- TA98 identifier: A05.1.01.110
- TA2 identifier: 2792
- FMA identifier: 77186
The interdental papilla, also known as the interdental gingiva, is the part of the gums (gingiva) that exists coronal to the free gingival margin on the mesial and distal surfaces of the teeth. The interdental papillae fill in the area between the teeth apical to their contact areas to prevent food impaction; they assume a conical shape for the anterior teeth and a blunted shape buccolingually for the posterior teeth.
| Interdental papilla | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | papilla gingivalis |
| TA98 | A05.1.01.110 |
| TA2 | 2792 |
| FMA | 77186 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
A missing papilla is often visible as a small triangular gap between adjacent teeth. Dentist will sometimes refer to this gap as a 'black triangle'. It can sometimes be corrected with orthodontic treatment. The relationship of interdental bone to the interproximal contact point between adjacent teeth is a determining factor in whether the interdental papilla will be present. If greater than 8mm exist between the interdental bone and the interproximal contact, usually no papilla will be present. If the distance is 5mm or less, then a papilla will almost always be present.
With active periodontal disease, both the marginal gingiva and attached gingiva can become enlarged, especially the interdental papillae. This enlargement results from edema occurring in the lamina propria of the tissue caused by the inflammatory response.
