Influence of horizontal dimensions around single gap and adjacent zirconia implants on the papilla - a cross-sectional survey

Purpose: To evaluate a possible association between the inter-implant distance and the papilla deficit. Additionally, the effect of high or low contact points of the crowns on the papilla deficit was investigated. Materials and methods: Periapical radiographs taken 1 year after loading were used to assess the distance from the shoulder of the implant to the adjacent tooth or implant. On the clinical images, the interdental papilla height, soft tissue deficit and crown length were evaluated. The papilla crown proportion and the proportion of the height of the contact point to the crown length were assessed. Results: Eighty-one patients, with a total of 104 zirconia implants and 208 measurements were involved in this cross-sectional survey. Considering patient means, the correlation between the papilla deficit and the interproximal distance, respectively inter-implant distance, was very low (r = -0.05220; P = 0.6435, N = 81). Logistic regression at implant-level showed that there was no significant difference in the likelihood for a papilla deficit between a high and a low contact point of the crowns with P = 0.8191 (Odds ratio: 1.106 with 95%CI 0.461; 2.654). Conclusions: Horizontal interproximal dimensions around zirconia implants showed very weak influence on the papilla height. A high or a low contact point position of the crowns did not affect the papilla deficit. Keywords: alveolar crest, dental implant, papilla, radiograph, zirconia Conflict of Interest and sources of funding: All authors reported no conflict of interest. There were no sources of funding for the research.