Which pontic design is the MOST difficult for the patient to clean?

Correct answer: C. Ridge lap (saddle) pontic

• A. ❌ The sanitary pontic clears the ridge entirely with an open embrasure beneath — the most cleansable of all, but unesthetic.
• B. ❌ The conical (egg-shaped) pontic has a single small point of tissue contact and is easy to clean; it suits the mandibular posterior region.
• C. ✅ CORRECT — The full RIDGE LAP (saddle) pontic straddles the ridge and contacts both the buccal and the lingual slopes, creating a concave undersurface that floss cannot reach. It traps plaque and causes chronic tissue inflammation, which is why it is essentially obsolete.
• D. ❌ The modified ridge lap is the compromise design: esthetic buccal contact but a cleansable convex lingual surface. It is the most commonly used pontic today.

Note: Cleansability ranking (most → least): sanitary > conical > modified ridge lap > ridge lap.