Dental OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) Practice Exam

What is the average biological width in millimeters?

1. 1 mm

2. 2 mm

3. 3 mm

4. 4 mm

The correct answer is: 2 mm

The average biological width, which refers to the distance from the crest of the gingival margin to the osseous crest, typically averages around 2 mm in humans. This biological width is composed of approximately 1 mm of epithelial attachment and about 1 mm of connective tissue attachment surrounding a tooth. Understanding the significance of the biological width is crucial in clinical practice, especially in periodontal surgeries and restorative dentistry. It plays a vital role in periodontal health and the success of restorative procedures, as encroachment on this biological width during treatment can lead to periodontal problems, including inflammation and attachment loss. The values in the other options fall outside the established range for biological width in healthy periodontium. While varying slightly from person to person, the consensus in dental literature firmly supports that the average biological width is about 2 mm.