This document discusses pontics, which are the artificial teeth used to replace missing natural teeth in fixed partial dentures (FPDs). It covers topics such as pre-treatment assessment of the pontic space and residual ridge contour, biological and mechanical considerations when designing pontics, esthetic factors, and different types of pontic materials and their indications. Key points include the importance of passive tissue contact with the pontic, preventing plaque accumulation between the pontic and ridge, using rigid materials that can withstand occlusal forces, and matching the shape and size of replacement pontics to the adjacent natural teeth for esthetics.

1. PONTICS IN
FPD
BY
KARISHMA ASHOK
ROLL NO: 33
IV/I

2. INTRODUCTION
• Pontics are the artificial teeth of a fixed partial
denture that replaces missing natural teeth,restoring
function and appearance.
• Proper preparation includes a careful analysis of
critical dimension of edentulous area; mesiodistal
width; occlusocervical disatnce; buccolingual
siameter and location of residual ridge.

3. BIOLOGIC
MECHANICALESTHETICS

4. PRE-TREATMENT
ASSESMENT
PONTIC SPACE:
One function of the fpd is to prevent tilting or drifting
of the adjacent teeth into the edentulous space.
If such movement has already occurred, the space
available for the pontic may be reduced and its
fabrication complicated.
Overly small pontics are undesirable because they
trap food and are difficult to clean.

5. Orthodontic repositioning, modification of abutments
with complete coverage retainers can be made.

6. RESIDUAL RIDGE CONTOUR
An ideally shaped ridge has smooth, regular surface
of attached gingiva, which facilitates maintainance
of a plaque-free environment.
Should have sufficient height to allow placement of
pontic such that it apperas to emerge out from the
ridge (mimics appearance of neighbouring teeth).
 Loss of residual ridge contour may lead to
unesthetic open gingival embrasures (black
traingles). This leads to food lodgement and saliva
percolation.

7. Siebert has classified residual ridge deformities into:
Class I: facio-lingual loss of tissue width with normal
ridge height.
Class II: loss of ridge height with normal ridge width.
Class III: a combination of loss in both dimension.

8. surgical modification
Although pre-prosthetic surgery like ridge
augmentation with a hard tissue graft may be done, it
is not always indicated unless the edentulous site is to
receive an implant.

11. PONTIC CLASSIFICATION:
Mucosal contact No mucosal contact
- Ridge lap - Sanitary (hygenic)
- Modified ridge lap - Modified sanitary (hygenic)
- Ovate
- Conical

12. Design location Indication Contra-
indication
Materials
1.
sanitary/
hygenic
Posterior
mandible
Non-
esthetic
zone;
Impaired
oral
hygeine
Minimal
vertical
dimension
All metal
2. conical Molars
without
esthetic
requirement
Posterior
areas with
minimal
esthetic
requirement
Poor oral
hygeine
All metal
Metal-ceramic
All resin

13. Design location Indication Contra-
indication
Materials
3.
Modified
ridge lap
High esthetic
(anteriors,
premolars &
sometimes
molars)
Esthetic
concern
Minimal
esthetic
concern
Metal-ceramic
All resin
4. Ovate Maxillary
incisors,
cuspids &
premolars
Desire for
optimal
esthetics ;
High smile
line
Unwilling
ness for
surgery
Metal-ceramic
All resin

14. BIOLOGIC
CONSIDERATIONS
Aims at maintainace and preservation of residual
ridge, abutments, opposing teeth and supporting
tissues.
Factors:
1. Ridge contact
2. Oral hygeine considerations
3. Pontic material
4. Occlusal forces

15. Ridge contact
Pressure free contact between the tissue and pontic
is indicated to prevent ulceration &inflamation of soft
tissues.
If any blanching of tissues occurs during try-in,
pressure areas should be identified using disclosing
medium and pontic recontoured until tissue contact is
entirely passive.

16. Oral hygeine considerations:
Chief cause of ridge irritation toxins released from
microbial plaque accumulates between gingival
surface of pontic and residual ridge calculus
formation and tissue irritation.
Unlike RPD, FPD cannot be removed for cleansing.
Normally where tissue contact occurs,gingival area of
pontic is inaccessible. Devices such as proxy
brushes, superfloss may be used.
If pontic has a concavity or depression in its gingival
surface, there will be palque accumulation which
leads to inflamation. Therefore FPD should be
checked & corrected before cementation.

17. Pontic material
Should provide
Good esthetics where needed
Biocompatibility
Rigidity and strength to withstand occlusal forces
Longevity
FPD should be made as rigid as possible, because any flexure
during mastication or parafunction may caus epressure on gingiva
and fracture of veneering material.
Occlusal contacts should not occur at metal-porcelain junctions.
Pontic material should have ability to resist plaque
accumulation(surface roughness should be less)
Therefore, gold glazed porcelain ceramic

18. Occlusal forces
To withstand occlusal forces, it has been suggested to
reduce the bucco-lingual dimension of the pontic by
30%
But in case of parafunctional habits or accidental
biting on a hard object, this may not be efficient.
Infact, it may impede harmonious and stable occlusal
relationship
Hence, normal pontic width atleast at the occlusal
third is recommended
Exception-when ridge is collapsed bucco-lingually

19. MECHANICAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Factors that lead to fracture of prosthesis or
displacement of retainers:
1. improper choice of material
2. poor frame work design
3. poor tooth preparation
4. poor occlusion

20. When metal-ceramic pontics are chosen, extending
porcelain onto occlusal surfaces to achieve better
esthetics should be carefully evaluated.
Porcelain may also abrade the opposing dentition if
occlusal contacts are on enamel or dentin.

21. ESTHETIC
CONSIDERATION
• Priority of the patient.
• Gingival interface:
-an esthetically successful pontic will replicate
the form, contour, incisal edge, gingival and
incisal embrassures and color of adjacent tooth.
-attention should be paid to the contour of labial
surface as it approaches the pontic-tissue
junction to achieve a “natural” appearance.

22. • Modified ridge lap is recommended for most anterior teeth.
It compensates for lost bucco-lingual width in the ridge by
overlapping the existent ridge.
• When esthetics is of utmost concern, yhe ovate pontic
used in conjunction with alveolar preservation or soft tissue
augmentation can provide indistinguishable appearance.

23. Incisogingival length
Obtaining a correctly sized pontic simply by
duplication of the original tooth is not possible.
Ridge resorption will make the tooth look too long in
cervical region.
However an abnormal labio-lingual position is not so
obvious. Hence it is used to improve appearance by
recontouring giongival half of labial surface.
Another solution is to shape the pontic to stimulate a
normal crown and root with emphasis on CEJ
Or by using pink acrylic

25. Mesio-distal width:
Frequently space available for the pontic is less than
the contra-lateral tooth
This is due to uncontrolled toth movement which took
place when the tooth was lost and not replaced.
If possible, such discrepancy should be corrected by
orthodontic repositioning
The space discrepancy can also be corrected by
altering the shape of proximal areas
(by duplicating the mesial half of the tooth and
adjusting the size of the distal half)

27. PONTIC FABRICATION
Materials available:
advgs disadvgs indications Contra-
indications
Metal-ceramic Esthetics
Biocompatible
Weaker than all
metal pontics
Most situations Long span with
high stress
All-metal Strength
Simple
procedure
Non-esthetic Mandibular
molars
Esp under high
stress
Where
esthetics is
important
Fibre
reinforced
resin
Conservative
Esthetic
Ease of repair
Limited to
short span
uniots
High esthetic
concern
Long span
fpd’s
facings Rarely used-of historic interest only