[Clinical and histopathological investigation of pontic-mucosa relation on bridge prosthesis]

The studies carried upon the pontic-mucosa relation, show that inflammatory changes take place in the adjacent soft tissue. It was also reported that inflammatory reactions were observed in the 95% of the cases following the removal of the prosthesis. In this study the clinical and histopathological data of the cases showing pontic designing complaining about their prosthesis, were evaluated. Clinically in almost all the bridges there was a question of collapsing and pressure upon the mucosa, particularly at posterior group bridges. The histopathological examinations of the sections taken from the underpontic mucosa having hyperemic appearance, showed bleeding regions, degeneration and descuamation in epithelium, and chronic inflammatory cell infiltration at the surface regions under epithelium. These findings prove the chronic inflammatory process in the mucosa under the bridge pontic.