What is an ovate pontic?

When a dentist fabricates a fixed bridge, the part that replaces a missing tooth is called a pontic. An ovate pontic is egg shaped on the part that contacts the gum, so that it is more easily clean with dental floss. Also it can be designed to slightly depresss the gum, so that the illusion is created that it is an actual tooth emerging from the gum. In my opinion, this is almost always the best design for pontics on anterior fixed bridges.

Traditionally, most pontics were designed with a modified ridge lap design. The part of the pontic resting on the gum was concave so that the pontic hugged the alveolar ridge. This design works, but it can pose a problem when a patient wants to clean under the pontic since it is difficult to use floss to clean this concavity, even with a floss threader.

Unfortunately, most dental laboratories still use modified ridgelap designs when fabricating fixed bridges, possibly because this is the design they were taught to use and it can be easier for them to create, than the ovate design. If you are in the process of having a fixed bridge made , it would be a good idea to ask your dentist about whether you can have an ovate pontic.