Placing a Maryland bridge

A Maryland bridge is made in a dental laboratory, so it may take two or more appointments to complete your bridge. On your first visit, we numb the area to make you comfortable. Depending on the situation, we may also use a rubber dam to protect your mouth while we work.

We use the hand piece to remove any decay, and then we lightly reduce the backs of the neighboring teeth that will support the bridge. Next we'll take impressions of your teeth.

A model of your mouth is made from this impression, and then the lab uses the model to create a bridge that precisely fits your teeth and bite. In the meantime, we often place a temporary bridge.

On your next visit, we remove the temporary bridge and try in the final bridge. We check the fit and your bite. When everything is right, we bond the "wings" onto the neighboring teeth, and you'll have your final Maryland Bridge.

The benefits of a Maryland bridge

Maryland bridges have several advantages. They:

- Replace teeth for biting and chewing
- Assist in clear speech
- Help prevent teeth from shifting
- Require minimal tooth preparation, which means stronger teeth, less chance of sensitivity, and healthier gums.