Ovoid pontic design through gingival contour. Report of two cases

Collapse in the anterior maxillary region is one of the most frequently found problems in patients who have endured extractions, especially in zones which represent a great aesthetical challenge. Treatment is often administered lacking proper case planning, and therefore might originate very important defects in the alveolar process periodontal architecture. There are periodontal and prosthetic techniques which can solve this type of situations. The use of ovoid pontics combined with periodontal plastic surgery techniques is mainly administered to patient rehabilitation, and can achieve satisfactory functional and aesthetic results. The purpose of this study was to show two clinical cases where both techniques were used. In the fi rst clinical case, a fi xed partial prosthesis of three ceramic units In-Ceram® devoid of metal was manufactured, using the ovoid pontic technique. In the second case, a Maryland type prosthesis of optimized ceramic polymer reinforced with fi ber glass was fabricated. The prosthesis contained an ovoid pontic combined with a subepithelial connective tissue graft to reconstruct the periodontal architecture of the alveolar process in the zone of the missing tooth. Results thus achieved give a natural, aesthetic and functional appearance to the prosthesis pontics. RESUMEN