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For a person who has lost one or more teeth, a Maryland bridge is a cost effective and highly effective method of replacing a missing tooth without damaging neighboring, existing teeth.
As in the case of every other type of dental bridge, the replacement tooth in a Maryland bridge is supported by teeth on either side of it. However, traditional bridges do have their drawbacks. The cheapest and most rudimentary types can wear away the enamel of supporting teeth, leaving them vulnerable to decay.
Many bridges also require a Houston dentist to significantly reduce the surface area of natural teeth to support the bridge. The advantage that a Maryland bridge offers is that it does requires almost no reduction in tooth surface area. Only a slight amount of the back of the teeth is smoothed down to support the wings of the bridge.
The Maryland bridge is made in a dental laboratory and is normally manufactured out of porcelain or porcelain fused-to-metal.
In most cases, it takes a minimum of two trips to a Houston cosmetic dentist to get fitted with one of these bridges. The primary reason for this is that dental bridges have to be custom-made be made in a laboratory. The lab requires will highly detailed personal data on your teeth to make the bridge fit your mouth.
To obtain this information, your Houston cosmetic dentist will have to first examine your teeth and prepare them for a bridge fitting.
First, the dentist numbs the area surrounding your teeth to eliminate any potential discomfort. We also place a rubber dam in the back of your mouth to protect it from dental debris.
With a dental handpiece, the dentist the removes decay from the teeth surrounding the gap. The dentist will also lightly reduce the surface areas of the backs of these teeth so the bridge will have support when it is ready to be mounted.
The dentist also takes impressions of your teeth and creates a model of your mouth using these impressions. This model is then sent to a dental lab. When the lab receives this model, they use it to create a bridge that provides an exact fit for your teeth and bite.
Houston cosmetic dentists then fit your mouth with a temporary bridge. This bridge allows you to eat and speak normally, but you should be cautious about the types of foods you eat. Do not rely upon this bridge as you would a permanent one. It is, after all, only temporary.
Once your Maryland bridge is ready, we will then call you in for your second appointment. At this time, we fit it to your teeth without bonding so we can verify the fit and the bite. If these things check out fine, we then cement the wings of the bridge to the teeth on either side.
Maryland dental bridges offer several advantages.
--They work as fully functional replacement teeth for biting and chewing.
--They help you speak clearly without embarrassment.
--They prevent your teeth from shifting.
--Most importantly, they only need minor tooth preparation, and therefore do not alter natural, healthy teeth to any significant degree.
Maryland bridges result in stronger teeth, minimal chances of future tooth sensitivity, and healthier gums.
Cosmetic Dentistry is a specialized field that requires extensive knowledge and experience to be done correctly. The Medical Center Dental Group in Houston, Texas brings all of that and more to the direct benefit of each and every patient we treat. Although we are located in the world famous Houston Medical Center at Scurlock Towers, we routinely see dental patients who travel from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Beaumont, Midland and Houston, Texas to see Dr. Dale Brant, Dr. Charles Campbell or Dr. Elizabeth O’Sullivan-Winslow for their cosmetic dentistry services.
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