When teeth are absent due to oral trauma or congenital reasons, dental implants offer an excellent solution for filling those gaps. However, not every patient qualifies for the dental implant procedure.

Factors like inadequate bone density, angled tooth roots in the area, and the patient's age can influence whether an alternative dental restoration would be more suitable.

In such cases, Affleck Dental might suggest a Maryland bridge as a potential option for replacing the missing tooth.

A Maryland bridge is a special kind of dental fix that can replace a missing tooth for good. It's a bit like a regular dental bridge, where a fake tooth is connected to teeth on each side of the gap to make your smile complete. But there are some important differences to understand.

The usual dental bridges need our dentist to take away some of the enamel from the nearby teeth because the replacement tooth is held up by a crown on both sides. This method gives you a strong replacement for your tooth, but it also means saying goodbye to some healthy tooth enamel, changing those once untouched teeth forever.

Now, Maryland bridges do things differently. They have a fake tooth with thin metal "wings" on each side. These wings get attached to the back of the nearby teeth, and here's the cool part – no need to drill away any natural tooth enamel. The wings are stuck on using a special resin that hardens under a special light, making a strong dental bridge without changing your natural teeth.

The process for Maryland bridges is straightforward, swift, and doesn't involve any major procedures. First, our dentist gently prepares the back surface of the teeth on each side of the gap where your tooth is missing. This preparation helps in making a good connection. The metal wings of the Maryland bridge also have a slightly roughened surface, which makes them bond easily to the teeth.

Next, our dentist applies a bonding resin to the back of each tooth. Then, the Maryland bridge is carefully placed, with the metal wings snugly positioned over the back of the nearby teeth and the replacement tooth fitting into the gap.

After that, the resin is hardened to firmly secure the dental restoration in place. The result is strong and can endure for many years if properly taken care of with regular maintenance and good oral hygiene. If your restoration encounters any issues, we're more than willing to assist in repairing or replacing it.

Right after your appointment, you should be able to eat and speak normally. Since the procedure doesn't involve a significant removal of your tooth enamel, you shouldn't experience much discomfort after the bridge is attached. However, as is common with dental procedures, you might notice some mild sensitivity shortly after the appointment.