New evaluation technique non-surgical for papilla deficiency treatment in cosmetic area: randomized controlled trial

The absence or loss of interdental papilla creates an esthetic deficiency, phonetic problems and food impaction and generates a lot of expectation for the patient. Until now, the treatment for absence or loss of interdental papilla is unsuccessful e and there are no researches that show that the papilla regeneration is a predictable outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectivity of a non-animal originated hyaluronic acid injection in the reduction or elimination of papilla deficiency between natural teeth in comparison to a sub epithelial connective tissue graft treatment. The analysis was made on 20 sites in 6 patients, both genders, 29 - 62 years, showing deficiency in the papilla between natural teeth in the upper anterior region in at least two teeth. The 20 sites treated were randomly divided into two groups, according to the treatment by subepithelial connective tissue graft (control group) or by hyaluronic acid injection (test group). A single calibrated examiner evaluated the distance between the tip of the papilla to the contact point using a graduated periodontal probe before the treatment and 1, 3 and 6 months after it. Besides, it were investigated probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, gingival bleeding index, plaque index, distance from papilla to alveolar crest, distance from contact point to alveolar crest and width of the papilla. The results showed that 6 months after the procedure, the percentage of change in the papilla level was higher in the test group (14,94% ± 21,35%) than in the control group (-1,39% ± 31,46%), though not statistically significant (p>0.05). There was no significant difference variation in the width of the papilla before and 4 months after the treatment in test group (p=0.09) and control group (p=0.16), and there was no significant difference variation in the distance between the tip of the papilla and the alveolar bone crest. There was significant improvement of the Pink Esthetic Score (PES) after 6 months in comparison to the initial condition in test group (p=0.0078; Wilcoxon), while there was no significant difference in the PES in control group 6 months after treatment (p=0.35). The results allow to conclude that the treatment for of the papilla deficiency using hyaluronic acid injection promotes improvement, similar to the results of the sub epithelial connective tissue graft treatment, but with significant esthetic improvement related specially to the color and texture characteristics of the adjacent soft tissues.