Methods: 60 cases (aged of 20 to 30 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. For each case, five areas including: interdental papilla between centrals, centrals and laterals, and premolars were evaluated through parallel periapical radiography and impression. The height, base, and surface area of the radiographic and clinical surface of each papillary area was measured by using radiography and casts. Correlation coefficient between radiographic and clinical variables was measured in the whole data and each region separately. The database was evaluated through SPSS software with Pearson correlation test.
Results: Totally, 216 regions were studied. Correlation between clinical and radiographic papilla height was significant. Correlation between radiographic height and clinical base between central incisor and lateral incisor, and correlation between radiographic height and papillary clinical surface area were weakly significant. Correlation between the clinical and radiographic papillary surface area was not significant.
Conclusions: It seems that the relationship between radiographic and clinical dimensions of papilla has to be evaluated in both vertical and horizontal directions. Due to different correlations, all data obtained from anterior teeth should not be calculated together.