A pontic is basically an artificial tooth held in place by a, usually, removable brace or fitting. The pontic is the actual tooth substitute, whereas there are many ways that they can be fitted. These can take the form of:
Pontics are individually made for you and your needs. They can fill in gaps where you have missing teeth and can make you more comfortable with your smile. Use of a pontic can also prevent other teeth moving into spaces left free, so making crookedness or crowding less likely to occur. Having crowded teeth can lead to many different forms of tooth and gum problems.
Alike to your natural teeth, your pontic will need regular cleaning. Every day you ought to remove them and clean with a brush and toothpaste. If possible it might be best to remove your pontic throughout the night and leave it to soak in a suitable solution. These can be bought in pharmacies but you can also use a mixture of warm water and vinegar. Your dentist will give you more advice on this once you are properly fitted with one.