Pontic
Pronunciation: PON-tik
The artificial tooth suspended between abutments in a fixed dental bridge, replacing a missing natural tooth.
Full Definition
A pontic is the false tooth unit within a fixed partial denture (bridge) that spans the edentulous gap and is supported on each side by abutment teeth or implants. In editorial and billing contexts, pontics are coded separately from abutment crowns and must be clearly identified in treatment notes and insurance narratives. The number of pontics directly affects claim value and lab fees. Editors reviewing dental records should verify that the quantity of pontics matches the number of missing teeth documented in the charting. Pontics may be described by their design (e.g., ridge-lap, ovate, sanitary) in laboratory prescriptions.
Usage
Usage note: Always distinguish pontic from abutment in bridge documentation. A three-unit bridge has two abutments and one pontic, not three abutments.
In Context
- "The three-unit bridge replacing tooth #30 consisted of two abutment crowns and one pontic." — Operative note / insurance claim narrative
- "Editors should confirm that each pontic is supported by a documented missing tooth in the patient record." — Editorial quality-check guideline