Retrocuspid papillae: A study on its prevalence

Localized gingival nodule may be a clinical sign of a pathologic process of the gingiva. These may be a normal variation or a simple reactive lesion to metastatic tumor to the gingiva. Retrocuspid papilla is one such structure, occurs as a small round to oval soft nodule represents an anatomic variation. The aim of the present study was to assess and compare prevalence of retrocuspid papillae (RCP) in school children of Vadodara city. The present study was conducted by the Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, KM Shah Dental College and Hospital, Vadodara, India. A total of 1320 school children categorized into group A consisted of 1020 preschool children aged between 3 to 5 years and group B consisting of 300 school children aged between 7 to 9 years of Vadodara city were taken for the study. Sixty seven (67%) of children in group A showed the presence of retrocuspid papillae and in group B only 30 % children recorded the presence of retrocuspid papillae. Bilateral presence of RCP was found in 89% children in group A and 76% in group B. Studying in detail and establishing some more facts about this normal anatomic structure will be definitely useful in clinical diagnosis of lesions affecting the gingiva.