Pontic

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A pontic is basically an artificial tooth held in place by a, usually, removable brace or fitting.  The pontic is the actual tooth substitute, whereas there are many ways that they can be fitted.  These can take the form of:

• Fixed Bridge.  These are usually only one or two teeth held together by attachments to the surrounding teeth.  These are removable, but only by a dentist.
• Partial Denture.  These are attached to natural teeth but can be removed so you can clean them, and the natural teeth, daily. 
• Dentures.  A pontic can also be a full set of teeth.
• Dental Implants.  These are false teeth held in place by being secured to the jaw bone. 

Pontics are individually made for you and your needs.  They can fill in gaps where you have missing teeth and can make you more comfortable with your smile.  Use of a pontic can also prevent other teeth moving into spaces left free, so making crookedness or crowding less likely to occur.  Having crowded teeth can lead to many different forms of tooth and gum problems.

Pontic Care

Alike to your natural teeth, your pontic will need regular cleaning.  Every day you ought to remove them and clean with a brush and toothpaste.  If possible it might be best to remove your pontic throughout the night and leave it to soak in a suitable solution.  These can be bought in pharmacies but you can also use a mixture of warm water and vinegar.  Your dentist will give you more advice on this once you are properly fitted with one.

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