Article:
Enhancing Esthetics with a Fixed Prosthesis Utilizing an Innovative Pontic Design and Periodontal Plastic Surgery
Summary:
During the past two decades, significant advancements with the integration of periodontal plastic surgery into esthetic
restorative dental procedures have received increased attention. While ovate pontics have traditionally been used as a
restorative design following augmentation procedures to enhance esthetics, an alternate E-pontic design aims to
predictably support and maintain the gingival architecture between a single missing anterior tooth adjacent to a natural
tooth or an implant that is in harmony with the lip line and face. In addition, the E-pontic design promotes the gingival
facial tissue to coronally migrate over the pontic, creating a gingival sulcus. This article describes an innovative new
technique and a pontic design that predictably will develop, support, and maintain the gingival architecture to provide a
long-term esthetic and functional outcome.