PONTIC DESIGNBy

DR. MUSTAFA I. ELGHOUL B.SC,B.D.S,MS(ORTHO)

University of PalestineCollege of Dentistry

BRIDGE

•A fixed dental prosthesis which cannot be removed by the patient

•ABTUMENT :

•The tooth which support the bridge or part of the bridge and to which the retainer is cemented.

ABTUMENTs

Retainer .

•is that part of the bridge which is cemented to the abutment tooth

retainer

The ponticPontics are the artificial teeth in a fixed partial prosthesis, that replace the lost natural teeth ,and restore function and appearance. Its suspended between cast abutment restorations ,and attached

to retainer by a rigid connectors

pontic retainer

Rigid connector

Functions of the pontic

1-mastication –the pontic provides hard surfaces against which

food can be chewed by teeth in the opposing arch

2 -Speech (phonetics) A space created by the loss of tooth alters the pattern

of airflow making normal speech difficult .pontic helps to restrict air passage through edentulous area to aid in the reestablishment of normal sounds

3 -maintenance of tooth relationship

when missing teeth are not replaced, the teeth posterior to edentulous areas can move forward from their normal position , its also possible for teeth anterior to and opposing edentulous

spaces to drift distally and occlusally into open area . .

•Pontics maintain the integrity

• of dental arches by preventing teeth that are adjacent to and opposing an

edentulous area

• from moving out of their

• relationship.

4- esthetics (appearance)

Dental esthetics affects personal appearance , the presence of a full complement of teeth with a natural appearance is important to an individual's self

image. -Pontics , fill in the empty spaces that would be observed

during talking and smiling, provide support for lips and cheeks to allow normal facial form.

Pontic space

•well-aligned teeth and a pleasing smile afford apositive social status !

presence of a full complement of teeth with a natural appearance is important to an individual's self-image

The requirements of a pontic •

• 1 -Provide esthetics and comfort

•2 -Restore function

•3 -Biologically acceptable

•4 -Permit effective oral hygiene

•5 -Preserve underlying residual mucosa

RESIDUAL RIDGE CONTOUR

•The edentulous edge's contour should evaluated carefully. The ridge should be smooth, regular and free of frenum

attachment .

•Loss of residual contour may lead to unaesthetic appearance and lead to food

impaction .

Classification of residual ridges

•1-Class I defects faciolingual loss of tissue width with normal height.

•2-Class II defects loss of ridge height with normal ridge width .

•3 -Class III defects a combination of loss in both dimensions.

Pontic space

•Preventing tilting or drifting of the adjacent teeth into the edentulous space is important function of the fixed partial denture (FBD).

TERMINOLGY

•SPAN the part of the bridge which covers the edentulous area . Its connected or jointed to retainers at both ends in most of the bridges. but at one end in the case of cantilever bridges.

•PIER (Intermediate abutment)

•Any abutment other than terminal abutment of abridge.

Types of pontics

According to design According to material

All metal

All ceramic

All acrylic

Metal-combinationMetal-ceramic – metal-acrylic

With Mucosal contact

WithoutMucosal contact

1 -Pontics with mucosal contact

Divided to;

1 -saddle ridge- lap

2 -modified ridge-lap

3 -conical

4 - ovate

2-Without mucosal contact

Sanitary (hygienic)

Recommended

Location advantages

disadvantages

Posterior

mandible Good

access for hygiene

Poor esthetics

Pontic designs

Recommended

Location advantages

disadvantages form

Sanitary

)hygienic (

Posterior

mandible

Good access for hygiene Poor esthetics

saddle or ridge-lap

Not recommendedEsthetics

Not amenable to oral hygyeine

Modified ridge-lap

Anterior teeth and premolars , some maxillary molars

Good esthetics

Moderately easy to clean

Conical

Egg or heart shaped

Molars without esthetics requirements

Good access for oral hygiene

Poor esthetics

Ovate

Maxillary incisor and premolars

Superior esthetics negligible food entrapment easy to clean

Requires surgical preparation

Pontic selection

•Pontic selection depends primarily on esthetic and oral hygiene.

•In the anterior region where esthetic is a concern the pontic should be well adapted to the tissue to make it appear that emerge from the gingiva

•In the posteriors teeth conversely

Connectors(JOINTS) For Fixed Partial Dentures

connectors are those parts of a fixed partial denture (FBD) that join retainers and pontics together

Types of Connectors

•RIGID CONNECTORS•rigid connectors in metal can be made by:

a- cast connectors: shaped in wax as apart of the process.

•b. Soldering connectors: use of intermediate metal alloy whose melting temperature is lower than that of the parents metal.

•.

•c . Welded connectors: melting adjacent surfaces with heat or pressure

•D- loop connectors

•Sometimes required when an existing diastema is to be maintained in a planned fixed prosthesis.

NON RIGID CONNECTORS

•Is indicated when it is not possible to prepare two abutment for an (FPD) with a common path of placement. So segmentally the design of large , complex (FBD); into shorter compartments is easier

to replace .

PRINCIPLES CONNECTORS DESIGN

•1-size•Connectors must be sufficiently large to prevent

distortion or fracture during function. but not too large to prevent interference with plaque, periodontal tissue disturbance over time.

•2-shape•The shape of the tissue surface of the connector

should be curved faciolingually and highly polished and smooth to facilitate cleaning and patient should be satisfied with the

appeareance .

3-postion

•The location of the contact area should be established correctly to influence the success and stability of the prosthesis.

•In the anterior teeth

•The connector should placed lingually

•In the posterior teeth

•Located in the occlusal third of the crown and more lingually

Thank You

الغول ابراهيم مصطفي دكتور

– جامعة االسنان تقويم ماجستير

االسكندريه