This document provides recommendations for various pontic designs including location advantages and disadvantages, indications, contraindications, and recommended materials. The modified-ridge lap design is recommended for areas with the highest esthetic requirements as it provides good esthetics and is moderately easy to clean. The conical design is suitable for posterior areas where esthetic is a minimal concern as it provides good access for oral hygiene but poor esthetics. The ovate design is recommended for maxillary anterior teeth as it offers superior esthetics and negligible food entrapment but requires surgical preparation.

1. Pontic design Recommend
ed
location
adv disadv Indication contraindicati
on
materia
ls
Sanitary/hygienic Posterior
mandible
Good
access for
oral
hygiene
Poor
esthetic
Nonesthetic
zones,
impaired
oral hygiene
Where
estheticis
important,
minimal
vertical
dimension
All
metal
Saddle- ridge lap Not
recommende
d
esthetic Not
amendabl
e to oral
hygiene
Not
recommend
ed
Not
recommended
Modifiedridge-
lap
Highesthetic
requirements
-anterior,
premolars,
some max:
molars
Good
esthetics
Moderatel
y easyto
clean
Most areas
withesthetic
concern
Where
minimal
esthetic
concernexists
Metal-
ceramic,
all resin
conical molars Good
access for
oral
hygiene
Poor
esthetic
Posterior
areas where
estheticis
minimal
concern
Poororal
hygiene
All
metal,
metal-
ceramic,
all-resin
ovate Maxillary
incisors,
cuspidsand
premolars
Superior
esthetics,
negligible
food
entrapme
nt
Requires
surgical
preparatio
n
Desire for
optimal
esthetic,
highsmile
line
Unwillingness
for surgery
Metal-
ceramic
s, all
resin