Q.2. Define and classify pontics.

Write in detail
indications, contraindications and advantages of
different types of pontics.

Ans.

[SE Q.5]

{Pontic
Pantie is defined as, 'An artificial tooth on a fixed
partial denture that replaces a missing tooth,

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restores its function and usually fills the space
previously filled by a natural crown'.
Classification of pontics
Pon tics can be classified on the basis of mucosal
contact, type of material used and method of
fabrication. The classification is as follows:
I. Mucosal contact
A. With mucosal contact
i. Saddle pantie or ridge lap pantie
ii. Modified ridge lap pantie
iii. Ovate pantie
iv. Conical pantie
B. Without mucosal contact
i. Hygienic or sanitary pantie
ii. Modified sanitary pontic/perel pantie/bullet
pantie
II. Type of material used
Based on the type of material used,
panties can be classified as:
i. All metal pantie
ii. All ceramic pantie
iii. Metal-ceramic pantie
iv. Metal with resin-veneered pantie
v. Fibre-reinforced composite pantie
III. Method of fabrication
Based on method of fabrication, panties can be
classified as:
A. Custom-made pantie
B. Prefabricated pantie
i. Trupontic
ii. Interchangeable facing
iii. Sanitary pantie
iv. Pin-facing pantie
v. Modified pin-facing pantie
vi. Reverse pin-facing pantie
vii. Harmony pantie
C. Prefabricated custom-modified pontic
Indications, contraindications and advantages of
different types of pontics}

[SE Q.5 and SE Q.2]

{ • Saddle/ridge lap pontic

Indication: Highly aesthetic demands
Contraindications: Patients with poor oral hygiene
maintenance and periodontal problems
Advantages: Aesthetically superior
Disadvantages: Gingival surface inaccessible to
patient, thus difficult to clean
Pantie must be highly polished
• Modified ridge lap pontic
Indications: Appearance zone
Contraindications: Poor oral hygiene and
mandibular posterior teeth
Advantages: Good aesthetics. Lingual surface is
convex and does not contact gingival tissue, thus
enabling hygiene maintenance
Disadvantages: Oral hygiene is inferior when
compared to sanitary panties}

[SE Q.5]

{ • Ovate pontic
Indications: Fresh extraction sockets, anterior
missing teeth or flat broad ridges
Contraindications: Posterior teeth
Advantages: Most aesthetically appealing, least
food entrapment and thus easy to clean
Disadvantages: Surgical preparation and
meticulous oral hygiene are required
• Conical pontic
Indications: Knife-edged posterior ridges or molar
teeth
Contraindications: Broad residual edentulous ridge
and aesthetic zone
Advantages: Ideal oral hygiene
Disadvantages: Compromised aesthetics
• Sanitary/hygienic pontic
Indications: Nonaesthetic zone and ease of
maintenance
Contraindications: Appearance zone and less
vertical dimension
Advantages: Good accessibility for oral hygiene
Disadvantages: Poor aesthetics
• All metal pontics
Indications: Areas that are not of aesthetic concern
High stress-bearing teeth like mandibular molars
Patients with parafunctional habits like bruxism
Contraindications: They cannot be used, if aesthetic
is of prime concern
Advantages
• High strength
• Easy to fabricate and less technique
sensitive
• They can be used, if pantie space is
inadequate
Disadvantages
• Poor aesthetics
• Permeable to oral fluids
• Galvanism, if two different metals
are used in the mouth
• All ceramic pontics
Indications
• Areas of prime aesthetic concern
like maxillary anteriors
• Exacting patients who are highly
motivated towards quality dental
treatment
Contraindications
• Patients with parafunctional habits
like bruxism
• Reduced interarchpontic space
• Long-span bridges
Advantages: Highly aesthetic and good strength
Disadvantages
• High cost, as it is highly technique-
sensitive
• Lesser strength than porcelain
fused to metal panties
• Metal-ceramic pontics
Indications: It is indicated in most clinical cases
It is the most commonly used pantie type
Advantages
• They can be used in almost all
clinical situations
• Good aesthetics
• Adequate strength
• Biocompatible
Disadvantages
• More extensive lab procedure than
all metalpontics
• Difficult to fabricate, if the retainers
are not metal-ceramic
• Metal with resin-ftacing pontics
Indications: Long-term provisional restorations
Contraindication: Definitive restorations
Advantages
• Cost-effective procedure, as
conventional gold can be used as
substructure
• Easy fabrication
• Fairly good aesthetics can be
achieved
Disadvantages
• Lower strength as compared to any
other restoration
• Lesser abrasion resistance
• Easily discoloured over a period of
time
• Permissible to oral fluids
Fibre-reinforced composite pontics
Indications
• Resin-bonded fixed prosthesis
• Good oral hygiene
• Anterior single missing tooth
situations
• Short-span bridges}
• Used as temporary restorations in
young adults, till a permanent
prosthesis is fabricated
Contraindications
• Replacement of posterior missing
tooth
• Long-span bridges
• Deep bite cases
Advantages
• Easy chair-side fabrication
procedure
• Acceptable aesthetics and shade
matching
• Minimal tooth preparation is
required
• They can be used in young patients,
where the pulp chambers are big
and full
• Crown preparation may cause
pulpal damage
Disadvantages
• Less strength
• They cannot be used in cases of
multiple missing teeth

Q.3. Describe the component parts of fixed partial

denture.
Ans.
Components of fixed partial denture
Fixed partial denture is made up of three elementary
components:
I. Retainer
II. Pantie
III. Connector
Retainer
• The part of a fixed dental prosthesis that unites the
abutment(s) to the remainder of the restoration
(GPT8).
• This is used for the stabilization or retention of
prosthesis.
• It is cemented to the abutment.
• Major retainers are retainers, which cover the full
occluding surface of the tooth, e.g. full veneer
crowns and partial veneer crowns.
• Minor retainers are small metallic extensions that
are cemented onto the tooth, e.g. inlay and onlay.
Types of retainers
Retainers in FPD can be broadly classified as:
• Based on tooth coverage
i. Full veneer crowns
ii. Partial veneer crowns
iii. Conservative retainers
• Based on the material being used
i. All metal retainers
ii. Metal-ceramic retainers
iii. All ceramic retainers
iv. All acrylic retainers
Various types of retainers are explained in detail
below:
• Based on tooth coverage
i. Full veneer crowns
• These retainers cover all five surfaces of
the abutment.
• They are fabricated like a cap and are
usually indicated for extensively damaged
teeth.
• They are most retentive and ideal
retainers, because their design can resist
masticatory forces in all directions.
ii. Partial veneer crowns
• These retainers do not involve all the
surfaces of the abutment.
• Compared to full veneer retainers, they
require less amount of tooth preparation
and have superior aesthetics, but are less
retentive.
iii. Conservative retainers
• They require minimal tooth
reduction/preparation, e.g. acid etching.
• These retainers require minimal tooth
preparation and are primarily indicated
for anterior teeth.
• They cannot accept heavy occlusal load,
e.g. resin-bonded fixed partial dentures.
• Based on the material being used
i. All metal retainers
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