An adhesive bridge is fitted by attaching a small metal wing to the back of a neighbouring tooth.
Understanding the Fitting Process
An adhesive bridge, also known as a Maryland bridge, is a type of dental bridge used to replace a missing tooth. Unlike traditional bridges that require crowns on adjacent teeth, the fitting process for an adhesive bridge is far less invasive.
Here's a breakdown of how it's fitted, based on the standard procedure described:
- Structure of the Bridge: The bridge consists of the false tooth (pontic) that fills the gap, and a small metal wing or framework attached to one or both sides of the pontic.
- Attachment Method: The crucial step in fitting is sticking this small metal wing to the back of an adjacent tooth which supports the false tooth. A strong dental bonding agent is used for this purpose.
- Minimal Preparation: A significant advantage of this method is that it requires very little or no drilling of the adjacent tooth. This preserves more of the natural tooth structure compared to other bridge types.
- Potential Side Effect: While minimally invasive, the metal wing attached to the back of the tooth can sometimes cause the supporting tooth to look slightly greyer due to the presence of the metal visible through the enamel.
In essence, the fitting involves bonding the bridge's supporting framework directly onto the surface of a healthy tooth next to the gap, securing the false tooth in place without extensive tooth preparation.
