Controlled orthodontic extrusion to create gingival papilla: A case report

Prosthetic dental restorations alone do not produce esthetics. They must be in harmony with the surrounding gingiva, especially the gingival papilla. This case report describes the enhancement of the gingival papilla between an implant replacing the maxillary left central incisor and a provisional crown on the maxillary left lateral incisor. Esthetic harmony was disrupted by the absence of an interproximal papilla. First, provisional crowns on the implant and adjacent tooth were used in an attempt to remodel the interproximal gingival tissue, but the esthetic result was not satisfactory. The second attempt involved orthodontic extrusion of the lateral incisor in an incisal direction. The gingival tissue migrated incisally, thus restoring the deficient papilla and establishing restorative and gingival harmony. Both the implant and the lateral incisor were restored with ceramic crowns.