The incisive papilla: a significant landmark in prosthodontics

Several investigators have studied the horizontal relationship between incisive papilla and maxillary central incisor and measured the papilla incisor distance in dentate subjects to extrapolate this distance as a guide to place maxillary central incisors in complete dentures. Based on this premise, incisive papilla is recognized as an important landmark in complete denture construction. Papilla incisor measurements were made either from the middle or posterior border of the papilla and certain ethnic and national norms have been recommended to set the central incisors in complete dentures. This study was done on Dravidian dentate subjects to relate incisive papilla to central incisors and canines and also to ascertain its shape. During its transition to the edentulous state, incisive papilla changes its shape consequent to remodeling of the alveolar bone, palatal mucosa and interdental papilla following extraction of central incisor teeth. It was found that the papilla in dentate is not always round but seen in several forms. In some it was a double papilla and in a few it was rudimentary. The center of the papilla also changes from its dentulous to edentulous state. The posterior border is a relatively stable landmark since it undergoes least change after extraction of anterior teeth.