Clinical significance of biologic width in dentistry

Biologic width (BW) is the distance between the junctional epithelium and the supracrestal connective tissue above the alveolar crest, typically measuring approximately 2.04 mm. It is crucial for the health of periodontal, gingival, and alveolar bone tissues this creates a seal around the tooth's neck to prevent periodontal disease and gingival inflammation. Violation of BW can create a myriad of complications, like gingival inflammation, attachment loss, and bone loss. The article further discusses restorative and implant margin placement strategies, as well as surgical interventions such as crown lengthening, which help preserve BW. New digital tools provide a more precise assessment of BW in dentistry.