La Encia

Case of the Month
Biologic Shaping

Kurtzman

Daniel Melker, DDS1
Abstract

W

hen performing conventional crown
lengthening, the existing margins of an
old restoration or thecementoenamel
junction (CEJ) of a non-restored tooth are used
to determine necessary bone removal to establish adequate space for biologic width. Creating proper space for biologic width ensures that
the newmargin will not infringe upon the periodontal complex and reduces the likelihood for
future inflammation. One significant problem of
this procedure is that, at times, significant bone
must beremoved. This can weaken the stability of the tooth or create a weakened and vulnerable furcation area. The more bone removed
in the furcation, the greater the likelihood of
future problems withmaintenance. It is critical
to preserve as much bone as possible to support the tooth, especially in the furcation area.

Considering these and other important
aspects of crown lengthening, the conceptof “Biologic Shaping” was established. Reasons for Biologic Shaping include: 1) Replace
or supplement the current indications for clinical crown lengthening; 2) Minimize ostectomy;
3) Facilitatesupragingival or intrasulcular margins to preserve biologic width; 4) Eliminate
developmental grooves; 5) Eliminate previous
subgingival restorative margins; 6) Reduce
or eliminate furcation anatomyand thus facilitate margin placement; 7) Allow supragingival or intracrevicular impression techniques.
The following article presents a series of Biologic Shaping cases and the author discussesrequirements for successful treatment gleaned
over the past 33 years of his career in which he
has used this technique on over 30,000 teeth.

KEY WORDS: Biologic shaping, biologic width, ostectomy,osteoplasty
1. Private practice limited to periodontics, Clearwater, Florida, USA

The Journal of Implant & Advanced Clinical Dentistry

• 13

Melker

The clinical prerequisites and steps for...