Histological study of human periodontal tissue following biologically oriented preparation technique (BOPT)

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to conduct histological analysis of a human tooth resected with the periodontal insertion apparatus intact following treatment using biologically oriented preparation technique (BOPT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive histological dento-periodontal study used an anterior tooth extracted with the surrounding periodontal tissues intact, following prosthetic restoration with BOPT. The sample patient was recruited from among those attending the Department of Dental Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Valencia (Spain). Eight serial sections of the restored tooth were processed. The relative location and histological characteristics of the cemented prosthetic crown, the dental tissues of the tooth prepared by BOPT technique, and the periodontal tissues were analyzed. RESULTS: Structural analysis of the neoformed junctional epithelium showed that the number of layers decrease apically until there was a single row of cells perfectly adhered to the acellular cementum, and beneath the epithelium a connective tissue evidently free from inflammation. The tissues of the neoformed periodontium (gingival ligament, sulcular epithelium, junctional epithelium) presented histologic normality. CONCLUSIONS: Biologically oriented preparation technique is a reliable alternative to conventional horizontal finish lines. Key words:Vertical preparation, prosthetic cementoenamel junction (PCEJ), finish line, BOPT, crown.