Gender-based evaluation of interproximal dimensions. Influence on interdental papillae and gingival thickness in maxillary anterior teeth

Objective: The present study was formulated as a gender-based evaluation of the vertical apicocoronal (VAC), horizontal mesiodistal (HMD), and horizontal faciopalatal (HFP) dimensions of the interproximal area and their influence on the presence of interdental papillae and gingival thickness (GT) in maxillary anterior teeth.

Materials and methods: A total of 120 patients in an age range of 20 to 40 years, divided equally into two groups based on gender, were evaluated for interproximal VAC, HMD, and HFP dimensions through radiovisiographic (RVG) images. Additionally, the existence of interdental papillae and GT were assessed clinically in the maxillary anterior sextant.

Results: The overall mean VAC dimensions in between the central incisors were greater in females than in males, with maximum mean values of 5.91 ± 0.33 mm and 5.03 ± 0.23 mm, respectively. The mean values for HMD and HFP showed a reverse trend, being greater in males than in females, with the differences being statistically significant. Similarly, the mean GT was greater in males than in females (P < 0.0001). It was also shown that as the VAC dimension increased, the existence of complete papillae in the interproximal areas reduced.

Conclusions: The gender variability of intraoral characteristics such as VAC and GT dimensions and their influence on the existence of interdental papillae provide valuable guidelines that can be implemented in procedures in the maxillary anterior sextant. The associations between HMD and HFP dimensions and interdental papillae were not clearly evident, and further exploration in participants of different age groups would be useful and informative.