Which pontic is placed in the healing socket to form a depression?

Which pontic is placed in the healing socket to form a depression?

• A. Sanitary
• B. Conical
• C. Modified ridge lap
• D. Ovate

Answer: (D)

The ovate pontic is designed to be placed into a healing extraction socket so its underside occupies the socket space and pushes the soft tissue outward. This creates a shallow, natural depression in the mucosa that shapes the emergence profile as healing occurs, giving a more esthetic transition from gingiva to the prosthetic crown. The other pontic forms don’t interact with the socket in this way: sanitary/hygienic pontics avoid tissue contact, conical pontics have minimal tissue contact and don’t mold the socket, and modified ridge lap sits on the ridge with tissue engagement but not within the socket. So the ovate design specifically forms that tissue depression in the healing site.

The ovate pontic is designed to be placed into a healing extraction socket so its underside occupies the socket space and pushes the soft tissue outward. This creates a shallow, natural depression in the mucosa that shapes the emergence profile as healing occurs, giving a more esthetic transition from gingiva to the prosthetic crown. The other pontic forms don’t interact with the socket in this way: sanitary/hygienic pontics avoid tissue contact, conical pontics have minimal tissue contact and don’t mold the socket, and modified ridge lap sits on the ridge with tissue engagement but not within the socket. So the ovate design specifically forms that tissue depression in the healing site.