A Maryland bridge consists of a metal framework with a porcelain tooth baked onto the front of the framework. The framework then ends up as a false tooth with two metal wings on the side. These metal wings are prepared to have a porous surface so that they can receive a bonding agent, and then the wings are bonded to the back sides of the teeth on either side of the missing tooth. The picture on the right shows how this looks. There are two main esthetic problems with a Maryland bridge, and both of them have to do with the use of the metal. The first problem is that natural teeth are translucent. Therefore, the metal backing that is bonded onto the backside of the front teeth will cause those teeth to darken slightly, and they will no longer match the colour of the other front teeth. If Dr. Misha Susoeff doesn?t take this darkening into account (and very few dentists do), the false tooth that is replaced will also be slightly lighter in shade than these darkened teeth on either side.

Dr. Livaditis, along with Dr Van Thompson, were the co-developers of the resin-bonded bridge in the early 1980?s. It is commonly referred to as the Maryland bridge as it was developed at the University of Maryland, Baltimore College of Dental Surgery.

Call Avalon Dental at 780-465-0994 to book your appointment with Dr. Misha Susoeff. We are conveniently located at 4910 Roper Road in Edmonton, AB.