S Belli1, F Ozer. 1. Department of Operative Dentistry, Selçuk University, School of Dentistry, Campus, Konya, Turkey. b.sema@excite.com
Abstract
PURPOSE: This article reports a case in which a recently extracted tooth was used as a natural tooth pontic bonded to the teeth on either side of the missing tooth using a Ribbond ribbon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A bondable, reinforcing polyethylene ribbon was used to bond a natural tooth pontic to adjacent teeth. RESULTS: Acceptable esthetics were obtained and the result was satisfactory for the patient. CONCLUSION: After one year of clinical use, direct construction of a single-tooth replacement using the natural tooth pontic still provided satisfactory esthetics and function. The technology which makes this adhesive restoration possible is the development of a high strength, high molecular weight, biocompatible polyethylene fiber. This easily handled material must be evaluated in long-term clinical studies.
PURPOSE: This article reports a case in which a recently extracted tooth was used as a natural tooth pontic bonded to the teeth on either side of the missing tooth using a Ribbond ribbon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A bondable, reinforcing polyethylene ribbon was used to bond a natural tooth pontic to adjacent teeth. RESULTS: Acceptable esthetics were obtained and the result was satisfactory for the patient. CONCLUSION: After one year of clinical use, direct construction of a single-tooth replacement using the natural tooth pontic still provided satisfactory esthetics and function. The technology which makes this adhesive restoration possible is the development of a high strength, high molecular weight, biocompatible polyethylene fiber. This easily handled material must be evaluated in long-term clinical studies.