Papilla Reformation at Single-Tooth Implant Sites Adjacent to Teeth with Severely Compromised Periodontal Support

Reformation of the lost interdental papilla remains one of the most challenging goals for clinicians. When a single tooth is replaced with an implant, the papilla between the tooth and the implant can often be maintained or predictably reformed as long as the adjacent tooth's periodontal attachment and bone are preserved. However, if the periodontal support is compromised on the neighboring natural tooth, the papilla will often be deficient or missing. The cases presented herein demonstrate long-term follow-up of successful reformation of periodontal/peri-implant tissue contours, including reconstruction of lost interproximal bone and papilla at periodontally compromised sites using a combined hard and soft tissue surgical approach.