Evaluation of the Relationship between Biologic Width and Gingival Biotype in Patients Referred to Periodontics Department of Dental Faculty of Tehran Islamic Azad University

Prior to crown lengthening surgery and/or restorative and prosthetic treatment, it is necessary to know the dimensions of the tooth biologic width. In different studies, the biologic width has been measured in different sites and teeth with a healthy periodontium. In this study, the biologic width was measured in different teeth of the mandibular and maxillary arches, and the effect of periodontal/gingival biotype on biologic width was evaluated.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 163 teeth in 12 subjects, including five males and seven females with an average age of 28 ± 4 years. After injecting the anesthetic agent, the dimensions of the biologic width were measured using a periodontal probe at six sites in all the existing teeth (except the third molars). Periodontal biotype was evaluated and categorized as thin or thick by observing transgingival shade of a probe. The data were analyzed with ANOVA and t-test using SPSS 19 (α = 0.05).

The average biologic widths in the molars, premolars, canines, and incisors were 1.90 ± 0.80, 1.72 ± 0.69, 155 ± 0.72, and 1.49±0.64, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the biologic width and the tooth type (p value = 0.000). However, there was no significant relationship between the biologic width and gingival biotype in six points and different sites of the mouth (p value > 0.08).

The biologic width dimension varies in different tooth types. The periodontal biotype has no effect on the biologic width dimension.