Interdental papilla

Interdental papilla
Photograph of the upper right quandrant, showing teeth #4-8, with a DO amalgam on #5. The triangles of gingiva (encirled in blue) that exist between the teeth are the interdental papillae.
Latin	Papilla gingivalis, papilla interdentalis

The interdental papilla, also known as the gingival papilla, is the part of the gingiva that exists coronal to the free gingival margin on the buccal and lingual surfaces of the teeth.

A missing papilla is often visible as a small triangular gap between adjacent teeth.

The relationship of interdental bone to the interproximal contact point between adjacent teeth is a determining factor in whether or not the interdental papilla will be present. If greater than 8mm exist between the interdental bone and the interproximal contact, usually no papilla will be present. If the distance is less than 5mm, than a papilla will usually be present.