The periodontal-restorative interface in fixed prosthodontics: tooth preparation, provisionalization, and biologic...

The delicate dento-gingival attachment apparatus must be treated with utmost respect during all preparational maneuvers in the crevicular region. There is little room for error within these minute dimensions. To avoid irreparable harm during chemo-mechanical manipulation of the attachment apparatus, the dentist must always think on a histologic level in order to respect the cellular integrity of the periodontium. The learning objective of this article is to encourage the dentist to be ever vigilant when approaching the subcrevicular tissues during biomechanical tooth preparation, provisionalization, biologic final impressions, and final cementation. Part I discusses the emergence profile, retraction, preparation modalities, and provisionalization; it is presented in this issue. Part II will cover final impressions and casts, derived from information provided by morphologically correct provisionals, surgical provisionalization, and final rehabilitative results; it will appear in the April, 1994, issue of PP&A.