What Is A Maryland Bridge In Dentistry?
Maryland Bridges vs. Regular Bridges – A Maryland bridge is a type of permanent dental restoration that can replace a missing tooth. The concept is similar to that of a typical dental bridge, in that a prosthetic tooth is attached to teeth on either side of the gap to create a seamless smile.
- However, there are a few key differences to keep in mind.
- Regular dental bridges require our dentist to remove some of the enamel on the adjacent teeth, as the restoration is supported by a crown on either side.
- While this process provides a secure replacement for your tooth, it also requires the removal of healthy tooth enamel, permanently altering the otherwise intact teeth.
Maryland bridges, on the other hand, consist of a prosthetic tooth with thin metal “wings” on either side. These wings are bonded to the back of the adjacent teeth, eliminating the need to drill away any of the tooth’s natural enamel. The wings are attached using a composite resin that is cured under a special light, creating a durable dental bridge,
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Is a Maryland bridge any good?
Advantages and Disadvantages of Maryland Bridges – In some situations, a Maryland bridge can be a more viable solution compared with other bridges. For example, if an individual is still growing but needs a replacement front tooth, a Maryland bridge offers a minimally invasive solution, as a review in the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry (JERD) explains.
- A dentist can simply attach the bridge to the backside of the teeth with adhesive to provide a natural-looking, fixed tooth.
- Additionally, for those who may be too ill to undergo invasive dental procedures or surgeries, such as an implant procedure, placing a Maryland bridge can be a good option.
- As a report in the Journal of Clinical Case Reports notes, anesthesia is usually not needed when placing this type of bridge.
As the JERD review explains, a Maryland bridge also helps to preserve tooth structure because it doesn’t involve placing full crowns over any teeth. Maryland bridges are also typically cheaper than alternative options, such as implants. According to a study published in the Australian Dental Journal, resin-bonded bridges like Maryland bridges can last 12 to 21 years in the front teeth with a 95.1% probability of success.
How much does a Maryland dental bridge cost?
How much does a Maryland bridge cost? – The cost of a Maryland dental bridge will vary depending on several factors like your dental insurance, oral health, the missing tooth (or teeth), the materials used in the Maryland bridge structure, and more. Generally, a Maryland bridge will cost about $1,000 to $2,300.
What is the advantage of a Maryland bridge?
Reasons for having a Dental Bridge – Dental Bridges are almost a form of denture that can replace one or a few teeth if they have to be removed or are knocked out. The surrounding teeth provide a platform for the bridge to be attached to, making them very secure.
Appearance. Noticeable gaps can be very off-putting and can lead to confidence problems. Speech. Gaps in your teeth that haven’t always been there may cause your speech to alter, such as creating a lisp that wasn’t there previously. Oral health. Having a gap in your teeth can place the surrounding teeth under greater strain as well as causing orthodontic problems and issues with food debris becoming lodged in the gap.
Maryland bridges are made of a special resin and a metal frame that has wings that are cemented on to the enamel of the surrounding teeth to hold the bridge in place. With a Maryland Bridge the teeth surrounding the gap don’t need to have complete crowns and the wings of the structure are attached using a strong adhesive.
What is the strongest type of dental bridge?
Implant-supported dental bridge – As the name implies, implant-supported bridges use dental implants as opposed to crowns or frameworks. Typically, one implant is surgically placed for every missing tooth, and these implants hold the bridge in position.
one to embed the implants in the jawbone a second surgery to place the bridge
It can take a number of months for the procedure to be completely finished.
