It is imperative that esthetics be maintained in extraction cases (or in case of missing teeth).
Pontics are placed by default on anterior spaces greater than 4mm.
Full or half size pontics?
Full-size pontics are placed when spaces between teeth are intended to be maintained.
Half pontics are placed when adjacent teeth are intended to move.
Spark’s recommendation is to order full-size pontics in all cases, more resistant than half pontics, but ask to make them smaller than the space between the teeth adjacent to the gap. In this way, the spaces created between the pontic and the teeth will allow a greater contact surface between the aligner and the teeth.
Pontic Filling
Pontics can be filled:
With flow composite (cure the composite from the labial surface of the aligner and not from occlusal because the composite cures toward the light and would get detached from the aligner)
With temporary teeth resin (self‐curing)
With tooth‐coloured dental wax
Ectopic Canines
Extract virtually and ask for a pontic with its cuspid parallel to occlusal plane, and a big one if it overlaps the lateral incisor.
