Maryland Dental Bridges
(Adhesive Prosthetics in London)

There are several ways to replace a missing tooth. Maryland bridges are appealing as they do not involve any surgery or invasion of adjacent teeth.

Treatment Duration

90 minutes

Price

From £2,000

Combined Team Experience

25+ years

Recovery Time

1 hour

Our Google Rating

★★★★★ (4.9)

What are Maryland dental bridges?

Simply put, a Maryland bridge is a fake tooth fabricated with a wing, which is then bonded to an adjacent tooth. Traditionally they were made with metal and ceramic but these days we can trust full ceramic ones, which are more aesthetic.

The anchoring tooth requires only very minimal preparation (no local anaesthetic needed), which is quite different from conventional bridges. The bonding strength is very durable but their success does depend on the power of the patient’s bite. That is why Maryland bridges are more commonly used on specific teeth, such as incisors.

This procedure is especially suitable for adolescent patients for whom implantation due to future jaw growth is not yet possible. For adults, this procedure can be a valuable alternative to consider compared with the dental implant treatment option.

What’s the difference between an adhesive bridge vs. implants?

If you need a dental implant you may still be able to consider an adhesive dental bridge. Let us show you what an adhesive bridge is, and how we make them in our video with before-and-after pictures.

Our Reviews

Based on 76 reviews
Natalie Harrat
Natalie Harrat
2022-10-04
I have a long history of dental phobia. When my old dentist went into retirement I didn’t know where to go. I am not able to get through normal dental treatment. Prof. Dr. Christian Mehl was recommended to me. As an anxiety patient I clock up every little thing and I can only say that everybody in this surgery was naturally very friendly and helpful. There was never anything fake or contrived about it and my anxiety was accepted and dealt with as if it wasn’t a big deal, meaning I wasn’t treated like a time waster or nuisance. I have had life changing restorative surgery yesterday with Christian and his wonderful assistant Rebecca. I would have never thought this might be possible for me. The result is astounding and I am extremely thankful to this amazing team, which also includes Emma and Lin (thank you for coming by to check on me after surgery) at the reception and Dr. Andre du Plessis, who did the sedation. There is only a small number of options for people with dental phobia - this is one of them!!
Tasha & Taz
Tasha & Taz
2022-09-15
First and foremost my dentist, Christian, is clearly an expert in his field. He transformed my teeth and, for the first time in years, I am not in pain - and I have new teeth to replace the ugly gaps. He is kind, considerate and attentive. He will go over and above to do the best for his patients. Second, all the staff are personable and helpful.and they make attending the dentist a pleasure rather than a chore. This place is not cheap but as the saying goes: you get what you pay for. Would I recommend this practice - absolutely and without reservation.
Stuart Chapman
Stuart Chapman
2022-09-09
I highly recommend this practise. I have been seen by both Dr Raul Costa and Dr Jennifer Boardman. The information, care and treatment is exceptional. I always feel well looked after and informed.
Eleni Pissaridou
Eleni Pissaridou
2022-09-08
I highly recommend Wimpole Street Dental Clinic - I had an exceptional experience having my retainer fixed there. Extremely friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable team - thank you!
Vera Creasey
Vera Creasey
2022-06-24
I came to the Wimpole Street Dental Clinic with a serious dental problem and some hard decisions to make. I was greeted by the most friendly staff who immediately made me feel a lot more at ease and stayed encouraging and attentive during the entire course of treatment. Professor Christian Mehl, whilst caring and supportive, was also highly professional, informative and honest in his assessment which helped me opt for the right course of action. Professor Mehl has impressed me with his deep knowledge, skill and attention to detail. He made me feel uniquely special - a great gift indeed - and was always readily available to reassure and advise. Now that I have a full set of lovely teeth and my smile is truly back, I know that I have made the best decision and have a result I never thought possible. THANK YOU
N M
N M
2022-06-23
I had to have a tooth extraction (molar) and an implant. I am a nervous patient and I can honestly say I never felt anything but 100% cared for. Dr Mehl is extremely knowledgeable and precise but he's also very calm and chatty. For me, a calm male presence was reassuring. I never felt any pain during the procedure and I was STAGGERED at how normal I felt afterwards. I could have gone back to work immediately. I had initially wanted sedation but I'm glad I didn't as apparently the recovery is a bit longer. He gave me a bag with lots of pain meds, cold packs, antiseptic mouth wash etc The most uncomfortable moment was the beginning of the tooth extraction because I forgot to breathe through my mouth. If you adjust your tongue so you can do that then it's fine!!!

You can invest in your smile today

Why choose Wimpole Street Dental Clinic for Maryland bridges?

In our clinic in the heart of the medical district in London, we have a highly trained specialist in this area of dentistry – Professor Mehl. With more than 100 Maryland dental bridges placed and several of his peer-reviewed national and international publications in circulation, he is an expert dentist in this specialist field. In addition to his expertise, we have the support of our dental technicians who are highly experienced in the use of this resin-bonded dental bridge technique.

A custom-made adhesive bridge can cost less than you might think. Please consult our fees page for more information. 

Meet your dentists who are experts in Maryland Bridges…

  • We have over 75+ years of combined dentistry experience across our specialist team.
  • 10,000+ treatments performed and counting.
  • We are leaders in the dental industry – we regularly teach, lecture and publish our research work internationally.
Prof Christian Mehl
PROF DR CHRISTIAN MEHL

Specialist in Prosthodontics & Dental Implant Surgeon

Dr Raul Costa
DR RAUL COSTA

Aesthetic and Restorative Dentist

Our latest work

Fields of application

At what age can Maryland dental bridges be used?

If dental implants cannot or should not be used, the adhesive bridge is mostly used for single-tooth gaps. The dentition carrying the bridge should be free of caries, cavities and/or fillings. There is only an age limit for two-winged and splinted adhesive bridges in adolescents who are waiting for the eruption of their permanent teeth. Adhesive bridges, which are not used to splint two teeth together, can be used for children and adolescents. Maryland dental bridges are mainly used in adolescents if the teeth are missing congenitally or due to accidents or if a gap has formed after orthodontic treatment. In adults, the most common cause of tooth loss is due to gum disease or a failing root canal treatment.

Veneers

How many teeth can a Maryland bridge replace?

Adhesive dental bridges or Maryland bridges are a way to re-establish congenitally or otherwise missing front or back teeth easily, quickly and beautifully. We cement the bridges invisibly to one or two healthy neighbouring teeth. The adhesive dental bridge should not generally re-establish more than one tooth in the upper front and back areas of the mouth. In the lower front region of the teeth, a maximum of four teeth should be replaced and only if the jaw is straight in this region. Large back molars cannot be replaced with adhesive dental bridges because the chewing forces in this area are too great and they risk fracturing the bond between the bridge and the tooth enamel.

How should a Maryland dental bridge be designed?

We have the choice between using double-winged or single-winged adhesive bridges. At your consultation at our dental clinic in London, we will decide together your best treatment option in this case and as presented. We nearly always recommend a single-winged all-ceramic adhesive bridge, as it has been proven in various scientific studies to be an extremely reliable treatment option. If you are interested to observe how we have solved a handful of cases with Maryland dental bridges please visit our video library.

All-on-4 Implants

What materials to choose?

The most common choices are metal-ceramic or all-ceramic (porcelain) to create an adhesive dental bridge. Porcelain bridges are, however, superior to metal-ceramic bridges in terms of aesthetics and biocompatibility. If metal wings and framework are your preferred choice then a non-precious alloy is favourable. The best material for this type of dental bridge, however, is zirconium dioxide. 

What are the preconditions for a Maryland bridge?

An important prerequisite for the treatment of adhesive bridges is the adjacent (abutment teeth) being free from caries or cavities and having sufficient tooth enamel. The intact enamel is needed to bond the false tooth – the cantilever – durable to the adjacent teeth. Smaller fillings in the abutment teeth can be left in place but should be specially treated (conditioned) before the dental bridge is bonded and should be fully enveloped by the bridge’s wings.

It is also important that the size of the gap corresponds to the tooth to be replaced for the perfect fit. If you grind or press your teeth, this issue needs to be considered. If you have already received orthodontic treatment, an eight to six-week retention phase (no more active movement of the teeth) should be honoured prior to the insertion of an adhesive bridge. In all guidelines for all-ceramic crowns and bridges, single-wing all-ceramic adhesive bridges are listed and recommended as an evidence-based therapy. In addition, single-span adhesive bridges with ceramic frameworks to replace single or two incisors that are missing next to each other are now the standard in dental care during adolescence to address this dental problem.

Who is not suitable for dental bridges?

In order to achieve the best result possible when restoring your smile with this type of dental bridge, there are certain conditions to meet. It is important that the degree of rotated or tilted teeth is not too great and that the present gap should always fit the width of the prospective false tooth. The adhesive surface on the anchoring tooth immediately next to the pontic (false tooth) should be sufficiently large enough to accommodate it. If it is so low due to fillings, abrasions, or other circumstances then the adhesive bridge cannot be guaranteed to hold, so a dental prosthesis with an implant should be considered. Other dental treatments are also preferred if the patient practices contact sports (e.g. boxing, karate, ice hockey, etc.). In the case of a very deep bite,  grinding and pressing of the teeth, caution is also required when using adhesive bridges, since in these cases they are exposed to pressures which can lead to the loss of the denture (debonding).

maryland Bridge dental

Related Treatments

Dental Crowns

Our dental crowns, crafted by our master dental technicians within our own dental laboratory offer a perfect match to the colour, texture, shape and form of your own natural teeth. If you have cracked or extensively damaged teeth then rest assured that the dental crowns, we can offer can indeed provide the restoration to your smile that you are looking for.

Immediate Implants

Traditional dental implants can require at least 4-12 months before the treatment is completed. Immediate implants differ in that the dental implants including a temporary tooth can be placed on the same day as the extraction. Click to find out more.

Dental Bridges

Our all-ceramic dental bridges can restore the aesthetic appearance of your smile, reinstate the quality of your ability to eat with comfort, help you rehabilitate your speech and pronunciation and also maintain the shape and structure of your face as we perfectly bridge the gap caused by your tooth loss.

Inlays & Partial Crowns

If you are facing larger dental cavities or experiencing significant tooth decay, inlays and partial crowns may be a suitable dental treatment for your consideration, designed to replace the lost tooth substance which can no longer be saved. We choose to use all-ceramic inlays and partial crowns/onlays due to their high levels of biocompatibility and colour adjustability material properties generating perfect aesthetic results.