Year : 2017

Volume : Volume 7

Issue : Issue 3

Address for correspondence :
Dr. P. Sujatha
PSujatha@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:  In today’s busy world, most patients do not have time for long, drawn‑out dental treatment. The time span between loss of tooth in the anterior aesthetic zone due to traumatic accident and replacement of lost teeth can be aesthetically and psychologically devastating on the part of the patient. Especially, when a maxillary anterior tooth  lost  accidentally,  the immediate tooth replacement with an ovate pontic on a provisional bridge is a good alternative. Ovate pontic helps in preservation of the interdental papilla, which in turn preserves the natural gingival contour that would have otherwise been lost after extraction. An immediate tooth replacement using ovate pontic not only eliminates the psychologically disturbing partially edentulous phase but also results in a much more aesthetically pleasing replacement of tooth that is both hygienic and natural in appearance. Another added advantage of the use of ovate pontic is that it rules out the dissatisfaction resulting from an aesthetic ridge lap pontic placed directly over edentulous ridge. Just like the long‑lived bird “Phoenix,” arising out of its own ashes, the ovate pontic creates an illusion that the pontic is emerging from the gingiva, even after tooth loss. This case report discusses about replacement of lost maxillary anterior teeth with gingival and alveolar bone recountouring followed by immediate provisionalization with ovoid pontic to reproduce aesthetically pleasing natural appearance to the patient.

Keywords: Ovate pontic, gingival contouring, non-rigid connectors.