Formation of the biologic width following crown lengthening in nonhuman primates

The purpose of this study was to determine if and how the biologic width is reestablished following surgical crown lengthening. Crown-lengthening surgery was performed on the right or left maxillary and mandibular central and lateral incisors of three adult monkeys, with contralateral teeth serving as unoperated controls. Twelve weeks after surgery, tissue blocks were removed for histologic analysis. The results of a histometric evaluation indicate that the biologic width is reestablished following surgical crown lengthening. The junctional epithelium generally migrates to the apical level of root planing. Space for the supracrestal connective tissue fiber groups is created by crestal resorption of alveolar bone.