title: Immediate natural tooth pontic: a viable yet temporary prosthetic solution: a patient reported outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In patients with hopeless prognosis of the anterior teeth there is still a strong desire to save them for the sake of esthetics. If not grossly carious, broken down or discolored the extracted tooth after suitable modifications can be placed back in its original site by splinting it to the adjacent stable teeth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients (10 males, 5 females) in the age range of 40-65 years with pathologically migrated, unsalvageable teeth were treated by splinting the extracted teeth immediately with the stable adjacent teeth. After 12 weeks, all the patients were explained various treatment options available for replacement of the lost teeth. The patients were asked to fill out a simple closed ended questionnaire citing the various difficulties encountered during this transitional period, selection of further treatment modalities and the reasons for their choice. The feedback obtained was then analyzed statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hundred percent of patients were happy with the esthetics; however, 60% of them were dissatisfied with the function that it provided. The primary problem being apprehension of splint fracture and difficulty while incising and the data was found to be statistically significant (P=0.01**). All patients demanded a permanent treatment option following this with a fixed prosthesis. None of the patients were interested in the implant supported prosthesis due to cost, treatment time involved, and need for surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The concept of immediate pontic placement is surely a viable treatment option and promises an excellent transient esthetic solution for a lost tooth as well as enables good preparation of the extraction site for future prosthetic replacement.
authors: Unit of Prosthodontics, Oral Health Sciences Centre, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Sudhir
authors: S
authors: Bhandari
authors: Rashi
authors: R
authors: Chaturvedi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D000075202:Contraindications; D003657:Decision Making; D019094:Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D003779:Denture Design; D003830:Denture, Partial, Fixed; D016379:Denture, Partial, Fixed, Resin-Bonded; D003831:Denture, Partial, Immediate; D003833:Denture, Partial, Temporary; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D009969:Orthodontic Wires; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019279:Resin Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D014070:Tooth; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D019279:Resin Cements