Evaluation of Papillary Deficit Between Dental Implant-Supported Crown and Adjacent Natural Tooth

Objective: To evaluate the mean peri-implant papilla height adjacent to a natural tooth and assess any association of peri-implant papillary deficit with implant location. Study Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Settings: Prosthodontics Department, Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi Pakistan. Duration: Six months, from January 2023 to July 2023. Methods: 100 patients with dental implants replacing central incisors or first premolars, adjacent to natural teeth, were included. After crown placement (T0), the distance between the interproximal papilla tip and contact point was measured using the CPITN periodontal probe. After 3 months (T1), the measurement was repeated to assess papillary deficit. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and the paired sample t-test was used to compare papillary deficit at T0 and T1. Stratification and independent sample t-test were employed for effect modifiers (p<0.05). Results: The mean papilla height between the implant and tooth was 2.92±0.72 mm. The mean papillary deficit at T0 was 2.73±0.44 mm, while at T1, it was 0.85±0.52 mm. The difference in papillary deficit at T0 and T1 was statistically significant (p=0.001). No significant difference was found in papillary deficit based on implant location (p=0.14). Conclusion: A statistically significant improvement in papillary height was observed from crown placement to 3 months, indicating progressive papilla growth. However, the implant location did not affect the papillary deficit.