The relationship between pontic hygiene and mucosai inflammation in fixed bridge recipients

Abstract

Professional and personal hygiene measures were instituted in bridge recipients who demonstrated subpontic inflammatory lesions of the mucosa. The study group consisted of 16 participants (10 9♂ 6♀) with 27 pontics in all. Criteria of the Plaque and Gingival Index systems were used to describe the occurrence of plaque and mucosai inflammation. Occurrence of mineralized deposits was determined radiographically. Gram‐stained smear preparations were prepared for bacteriological examination. An estimate of the outgrowth of yeasts was obtained by a miniaturized culture test system. After hygiene periods of varying lengths of time, the clinical signs of inflammation disappeared. It is concluded that bacterial plaque is essential for the production of inflammation of the mucosa subjacent to bridge pontics.