Biologic Width

[simpledoc]

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Can someone explain it to me in very simple terms what is biologic width..am sorry but I know the exact definition "the term biologic width refers to the combined connective tissue-epithelial attachment from the crest of the alveolar bone to the base of the gingival sulcus" and the faculty who taught me this could not convincingly explain it to me...can any of my sdn buddies vividly explain this to me in simple terms...its so hard for me to visualize this definition....is biologic width same as the CAL (which is measured from the CEJ to the base of the sulcus) or is it like the probing depth of the sulcus?? 😕
probbaly bigwigs like jeff, fullosseousflap etc can help me more on this..

 

[ItsGavinC]

You basically nailed it with that definition. It is the SPACE between the base of the sulcus and the alveolar crest.

In health individuals it will measure about 2mm.

This SPACE is occupied by the connective tissue and junctional width.

I know I just restated the definition that you already had, but sometimes that helps me.

 

[Fullosseousflap]

Here is a thread over at Dental Town (registration required) that might be helpful.

Click here.

 

[DrJeff]

Violate this sacred space with a restoration and it will reform to that 2mm width, except now you've helped create a perio pocket in that area adjacent to the restoration 😱

I still am slightly amazed even after having seen it many times that when you reflect a flap for perio surgery, crown lengthening, oral surgery, etc. Give that tissue a couple of months to heal and the connective tissue a chance to reform, and voila you've got roughly 2mm of biologic width (if the patient keeps things clean). In general, any "wound healing" within the oral cavity is a pretty phenomenal thing to observe with respect to start to finish time, lack of scaring, and the ability to fill in defects. 👍