Fixed partial dentures: abutments, pontics, connectors
Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge · Dental (BDS)
Tooth explorer
Interactive 3DPeel through enamel, dentin and pulp — then switch to implants, braces or dentures.
Controls
Drag the sliders or type a value — the simulation updates live.
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Study notes
Why can't a very long gap (four missing teeth) always get a simple fixed bridge? A bridge is a beam: chewing load on the pontics bends it, and longer spans flex more, multiplying stress on the abutment teeth and connectors. Teaching uses beam mechanics — deflection grows rapidly with span length — so long spans risk connector fracture or abutment overload. Such cases need different prosthetic planning (e.g., implants or removable options), decided case by case.
Related topics
- Complete dentures: diagnosis, treatment planning, impressions
- Complete dentures: jaw relations — vertical and centric
- Complete dentures: occlusion — balanced, lingualized; teeth arrangement
- Complete dentures: try-in, processing, insertion, post-insertion care
- Removable partial dentures: classification — Kennedy, Applegate
- Removable partial dentures: components — clasps, rests, connectors