Pontics

Question 1

How many mm of bone can be lost following extraction?

Answer 1

6-7 mm

Question 2

When should you mention grafting therapy when extracting a tooth?

Answer 2

Before extraction

Question 3

What class of eruption involves loss of FL width only (32%)?

Answer 3

Class 1

Question 4

What class of eruption involves loss of OG height only (3%)?

Answer 4

Class 2

Question 5

What class of eruption involves loss of FL width and OG height (56%)?

Answer 5

Class 3

Question 6

What class of eruption involves no loss of bone (8%)?

Answer 6

Normal

Question 7

What are the dimensions of the 
Edentulous space?
What are the positions of the abutment 
teeth?
What is the occlusion likely to be?
Is there a need to reposition the teeth 
orthodontically?
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ up is key to answer these questions 
before you begin treatment

Answer 7

Diagnostic Wax

Question 8

T/F: When two materials are
used, the finish line for their
joining should not be on
the edentulous ridge.

Answer 8

True

Question 9

Ideally, a pontic should have the _____ inciso-gingival height as the original or

Answer 9

same

Question 10

T/F: When resorption of the bone has taken place, the pontic changes shape in order to
keep in contact with the ridge concavity

Answer 10

True

Question 11

Contour needs to be blended ______ to avoid a ledge at the cervical.

Answer 11

smoothly

Question 12

T/F: When the pontic does not adapt well, esthetics, speaking, and food impaction can
become troublesome

Answer 12

True

Question 13

What type of tissue should the pontic be placed over?

Answer 13

Keratinized tissue

Question 14

If tissue is non-keatinized, should the pontic contact?

Answer 14

No!

Question 15

Contact with the tissue should be minimal. Pontic shape in contact with tooth should also be
_______

Answer 15

convex

Question 16

Pontics placed \_\_\_\_\_\_ of the 
inter-abutment axis creates 
torque on the connectors and 
abutments which can lead to 
failure

Answer 16

outside

Question 17

Recall that _______ is the biggest reason why we see mechanical failure in
bridgework. So replacing as ideal occlusion as possible extends the life of the
restoration.

Answer 17

occlusion

Question 18

_____ pontic design:

• Also known as a Saddle pontic
• Not used any longer
• Forms a large CONCAVE contact area with ridge
• Patient not able to clean
• Creates tissue inflammation leading to tissue ischemia and necrosis

Answer 18

Ridge Lap

Question 19

\_\_\_\_\_\_ pontic design
-Also known as Sanitary Pontic
-No contact with Ridge
-at least 2-3mm of space between the 
ridge and the pontic
-Patient can easily clean without the 
pontic being a food trap
-Only for use in non-esthetic areas
-Design and shape is CONVEX in all 
directions.

Answer 19

Hygenic Pontic

Question 20

\_\_\_\_\_\_ pontic design
To increase strength of 
bridge in connectors with 
hygenic pontic
Deflection is increased 
with less occlusal gingival 
height.  So, lets beef up 
those connectors!

Answer 20

Modified Hygenic pontic

Question 21

\_\_\_\_\_ pontic design
-Passive contact with ridge crest
-Rounded and cleansable
-Triangular embrasure space can trap 
food
-Best suited for thin mandibular ridges
-Also not best for esthetic areas.

Answer 21

Conical Pontic

Question 22

_____ pontic design

• Passive contact facial side of ridge crest
• Can appear very esthetic
• Convex tissue surface contact
• Used frequently in the esthetic areas.
• Shape can help keep food from trapping
• Cleansability much easier for patients

Answer 22

Modified Ridge Lap

Question 23

\_\_\_\_\_ pontic design
Convex in all directions except for 
a small concavity on the lingual 
side of the facial-gingival aspect 
of the pontic
Contact area is meant to be 
minimal
Lingual side needs to be smooth 
and highly polished
Tissue contact ok but should not 
put pressure on the tissue.
Keep tissue contact on Keratinized 
tissue
Tissue contact shape is ideally 
shaped like a T.

Answer 23

Modified ridge lap design

Question 24

_____ pontic design
Blunt rounded Pontic shape that is set into a
concavity in the tissue of the edentulous ridge
Generally requires planning
-Pre-Prosthetic surgery via immediate
provisionalization after extraction
-Surgery/modification with provisional to
develop tissue shape and contour
-Ovate Pontics keep a slight pressure on the
tissue to maintain the effect of
emerging from the ridge
Cleansable by well educated and motivated
patients
Highly Esthetic

Answer 24

Ovate pontic

Question 25

SHould gingiva shape be u shaped or v shaped?

Answer 25

U shaped

Question 26

SHould the connectors be shaped concave or convex?

Answer 26

Concave

Question 27

If you increase connector height, you ____ strength of FPD

Answer 27

Increase

Question 28

Anterior connectors are placed more _____

for esthetics

Answer 28

lingually

Question 29

Anterior connectors are longer or shorter inciso-gingivally

for strength

Answer 29

longer

Question 30

Connector size for all ceramic is at least ___mm and possibly needs to
be larger

Answer 30

4

Question 31

\_\_\_\_\_ soldering
Uniting components of the same alloy 
BEFORE porcelain is fired.
Uses high-fusing solder
Melt solder with a torch
Solder has lower melting temp than alloy, 
but higher melting temp than porcelain 
firing temperature
Less Technique Sensitive

Answer 31

Pre-Ceramic Veneer Soldering

Question 32

_______ soldering
Uniting components of the same alloy AFTER
porcelain is fired
Uses low-fusing solder
Melt solder in oven
Solder has lower melting temp than alloy and
porcelain
More Technique sensitive
*Can compensate for slight discrepancies or
distortions that occur AFTER the porcelain is
fired.
*Porcelain can crack in area of solder joint
during solder process

Answer 32

Post-Ceramic Veneer Soldering

Question 33

When would you use Post-Ceramic Veneer Soldering?

Answer 33

Not often

Question 34

–
Adding material to contact area
Smoothing and shaping contact area
Voila! Contact!
Can add contacts to Zirconia too but not 
to Lithium Disilicate

Answer 34

Addition Soldering