The Papilla Presence Index (PPI): A New System to Assess Interproximal Papillary Levels

The present article describes a classification system used to assess the interdental papillary height on natural teeth; the index can also be used in cases of lack of contact points and presence of diastemata. This system is particularly useful to define the loss of the interdental papilla because of periodontal disease and papilla reconstruction after periodontal treatment, particularly if tooth repositioning is involved. The index, based on esthetic evaluations, measures interproximal soft tissue height in relation to the CEJ, adjacent teeth, and the point corresponding to the ideal contact point. The four index scores are useful for an easy clinical assessment with respect to patient esthetics.