Ace HOSA Dental Terms Quiz 2025 – Drill Your Way to Dentistry Success!

The term "pontic" specifically refers to an artificial tooth that is used in a dental bridge to fill the gap created by a missing tooth. In a dental bridge, the pontic is anchored to adjacent teeth, which helps restore both function and aesthetics by replacing the lost tooth. This is crucial for maintaining the alignment of the surrounding teeth and preventing issues such as shifting or bite problems.

The other concepts mentioned do not accurately define what a pontic is. For instance, a dental extraction pertains to the removal of teeth, a procedure quite different from the replacement function of a pontic. The shape of a tooth may be relevant to dental anatomy but does not pertain to the term "pontic." Similarly, a dental cleaning procedure involves the maintenance of oral hygiene, which is unrelated to the construction or function of a pontic within a bridge. Understanding this distinction is essential for grasping dental terminology and its applications in restorative dentistry.