The design of multiple pontics

Pink gingival restoration: An acceptable treatment for complex ridge defects

Complex implant prosthetic reconstruction poses several challenges. The lost anatomy of periodontium due to trauma or long-standing missing teeth, especially in esthetic area, requires several surgical visits for recovery. The augmentation procedures are technique sensitive and unpredictable and need long commitment from the patient. They are time-consuming and expensive, and patients are often unwilling. The alternative for anatomically deficient partial edentulous sites could be prosthetic gingival restoration. They help in re-establishing natural contours, interproximal papilla, and further eliminating complex procedures. The other advantage is perfect horizontal and vertical transition between the prosthesis and adjacent tissues. This article describes two cases of completed gingival prosthetic prosthesis which corrected the missing architectures around lost teeth. It was well accepted by the patients and can be an alternative for unpredictable regenerative procedures.

Different pontic design for porcelain fused to metal fixed dental prosthesis: Contemporary guidelines and practice by general dental practitioners

Objective

The current study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of pontic design selection by the general dental practitioners (GDPs) in the light of contemporary guidelines.

Materials and Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted among the GDPs of Karachi. A questionnaire was designed to collect data from 100 GDPs. The questionnaire included general/demographic information (practitioner's education, experience, and place of practice) and an average number of fixed prosthesis constructed by the GDP. The questionnaire was further categorized to evaluate the knowledge/practice of pontic design selection and latest recommendations.

Results

For the maxillary anterior segment, the ridge lap pontic was the most common (32%) followed by the modified ridge lap (28%). In the maxillary posterior segment, the ridge lap pontic was the most common (37%) followed by sanitary design (34%). For the mandibular anterior segment, the modified ridge lap (50%) was the most common followed by ridge lap pontic (17%). In case of the mandibular posterior segment, the sanitary design (34%) was the most common followed by ridge lap pontic (30%).

Conclusions

The pontic design selection for the fixed prosthesis is a neglected domain. The contemporary guidelines are not followed with full spirit by the GDPs leading to wide variations in the pontic design selection.

Nonsurgical management of soft tissue deficiencies for anterior single implant-supported restorations: A clinical report

Periodontal surgical procedures may not always offer a predictable level of success in the reproduction of a natural gingival architecture. Two different nonsurgical approaches are described for the management of soft tissue deficiencies in anterior implant-supported restorations. Clinically acceptable esthetic outcomes of anterior implant restorations can be achieved by using zirconium custom abutments and gingiva-colored dental porcelain.

Anterior pontic design: a logical progression

The fixed partial denture with multiple pontics can be enhanced by the elimination of embrasures between pontics while basic adherence to established design concepts is maintained. Continuing clinical observations are indicated.