In dentistry, a "pontic" is an artificial tooth fixed to a dental bridge. Because it relies on an abutment for its stability, the pontic is constructed as a single prosthetic and appears as though it is a natural tooth protruding from the gums.
In this dental procedure code, the pontic is made from a base of noble metal, and then covered, at least partially, with a tooth-colored synthetic resin to enhance its cosmetic appeal. Synthetic resins are liquid materials that can be converted into a permanent hardened material, and in dentistry are most commonly acrylic polymer or polymethyl methacrylate. A pontic that includes noble metal, is designated as such because 25%-60% of its composition is of the noble metals gold, platinum, palladium, and silver. These metals are known to interact with human tissue well, and hold up to corrosion and oxidation better than other metals. The higher the percentage of noble metals, the less likely a pontic is to corrode or oxidize, as is the case with a pontic resin with high noble metal.
Use of the two materials together, is done when extensive repair is needed within the "smile zone." With this procedure, because the metal strengthening core is covered with a tooth-colored resin, you can achieve excellent cosmetic results, in addition to the durability that stems from the underlying metals.
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