The natural tooth pontic: a novel approach

This paper presents a novel clinical technique of employing an e.max lingual retainer combined with a natural tooth pontic to manage the immediate restoration of a post-extraction space in the lower anterior region. It presents an interesting case report and discusses the use of the e.max lingual retainer compared to other techniques available for managing the immediate restoration of a post-extraction space.

The loss of an anterior tooth can present a challenging clinical situation with regards to the aesthetic, functional and psychosocial concerns for the patient, in addition to the difficulty of restoring such an edentulous space in a timely if not immediate manner.

An 80-year-old female patient presented complaining of a loose lower front tooth. She explained that the tooth had become progressively loose and, although currently asymptomatic, she had suffered multiple abscesses. Medically, this patient suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and back pain. She had previously been diagnosed with Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour (MPNST) in the post nasal space with extension to the left orbit and frontal lobe. This had been treated by endoscopic craniofacial resection of the tumour and radiotherapy in 2013. She had subsequently undergone a nasal reconstruction procedure.