Ovate Pontic-All porcelain bridgework - Procera Porcelain-Nobel Biocare ™

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Before:

Procera Porcelain - High strength porcelain for discriminating dental clients

The patient complained that her old bridge was opaque and that it did not match her natural teeth.  Food would accumulate underneath the false tooth because it did not contact the gum ridge. The middle false tooth did not appear as though it was growing out of the gum. 



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After:

Ovate pontic forms for anterior bridgework

Treatment included some subtle reshaping of teeth, bleaching, and replacement of her old bridge. The upper front four teeth have been replaced with an all porcelain bridge made of Procera™ porcelain.  To make it look as though no tooth was missing, a special "pediculated graft" was performed by a periodontist to rebuild the deficient gum ridge and the false tooth was pressed tightly to the tissue.  There are many shapes that dentist will use on the underside of the false tooth.  Some shapes are more difficult for the dentist to create.  Although far more time consuming, an ovate pontic design will yield a better looking result.

 

Treatment choices when a tooth is extracted

When a tooth is extracted it can be replaced 4 different ways:

1. the space can be filled with a dental implant
2. the space can be filled with a fixed dental bridge
3. a removeable partial denture
4. the space can be closed with orthodontics or braces

The most common and preferred treatment options for filling the space of an extracted tooth is either with an implant or with orthodontics.  If these treatment options are not possible for whatever reason, then a fixed permanently placed bridge is the best option.  Partial dentures are becoming a treatment choice of the distant past.  It is rare today that Dr. Fondriest makes a partial denture. 

A bridge is a dental prosthetic that replaces one or more missing teeth by permanently crowning the natural tooth in front of and behind the missing tooth/teeth.  A false crown is created to replace the missing tooth/teeth adn the crowns are all connected together. The crowned teeth are called the abutment teeth and the false tooth/teeth is/are called the pontic/s.  The part of a pontic that contacts the bare jaw ridge can be created in different shapes.  Dentists will prescribe a shape that is most appropriate for the patient.  Different shapes have different levels of cleansibility and esthetics. 

Ovate pontics

The most esthetic pontic design is the ovate pontic.  It requires special techniques and training on behalf of the dentist.  It is the esthetic because it makes the false tooth appear to be growing out of the gum tissue just like the original tooth did.  This is especially nice if the bridge is in the front of the mouth and the patient has a big smile.   Ovate pontic designs are not appropriate for patients with less than ideal oral hygiene.  It is common to require gum grafts to prepare the gum ridge for this cosmetically superior option.