Using the pinledge as a conservative retainer: a clinical report

Abstract

Prior to the invention of the metal ceramic crown, the pinledge retainer served prosthodontic dentistry for many years. The metal ceramic retainer has been the standard of choice for the majority of fixed partial dentures (FPDs) for nearly 40 years. Recent advances with acid-etched, resin-bonded metal retainers and most recently all-ceramic retainers may have led many to believe that the pinledge retainer is an outdated treatment modality. This clinical report provides examples of several types of pinledge retainers used to restore missing teeth or to splint teeth. These patient examples will also demonstrate that the pinledge retainer can provide excellent esthetics for today's appearance-conscious patients.