How-to
October 6, 2025

Papillae Height in Smile Design

Accurate papilla positioning = Libraries that “custom-fit” your restorative space => smiles that look natural.

Papillae Height in Smile Design

When designing a smile, every detail matters – and papillae height is one of those critical details that ensures harmony in aesthetics.

What you should know:

  • Papillae height in relation to tooth length (the papilla proportion) influences how natural and esthetic the smile looks.
  • For central incisors, papillae height typically represents 40–45% of the crown length.

Apply these principles in Smilecloud Smile Design:

  • If the patient will not undergo extractions or implants, design with the papillae exactly as they are. This ensures your shape libraries are a custom fit to the patient’s anatomy.
  • The real-time companion shows you the exact ratio you’re working with, so you can design with harmony.
  • If the patient will undergo extractions or implants, remember: papillae shrink. Place the papillae points slightly higher to anticipate this change. This generates shape library suggestions with longer contact areas, helping preserve esthetics post-treatment.

To place papillae levels one by one - press the ALT key or Option Key (for Mac) and drag the point with your mouse.

🔍 Pro tip: Papilla positioning = Libraries that “custom-fit” your restorative space => smiles that look natural.

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