Relationship of Incisive Papilla to Maxillary Incisors and Canines

The study was carried to find a relationship between the postextraction stable landmark, the incisive papilla, and the most labial position of the maxillary central incisor teeth, which occurred in Nepalese population.

Casts of the subjects selected by nonprobability random sampling meeting the inclusion criteria were obtained. Each casts were standardized with respect to the occlusal plane and a photographic technique was used to measure the distance from the tangent of the labial surface of the central incisors to the posterior border of the incisive papilla. The measurements were made using Adobe Photoshop and results were analyzed by using appropriate statistical methods. Most appropriate software (SPSS) for the purpose was used to generate all desired values.

The data obtained suggested that the distance from the labial surface of maxillary central incisors to the posterior border of the incisive papilla ranged from 9 to 15.9 mm with a mean of 11.59 mm (SD 1.3). Various other results were also found after evaluation of the arch forms in relation to sex and race.

Within the limitations of the study, these results suggested that there is a relationship between the maxillary central incisors and the incisive papilla aiding in the anteroposterior positioning of the anterior tooth. The clinical relevance of the study lies in application of the incisive papilla as a starting point in the preliminary location of maxillary incisors and canines during construction of the denture in absence of preextraction records.