Butterfly bridge?.

junkyarddog

Hi,I'm missing a front upper tooth,had a plate for a while that I hated,
just finishing having braces,and my dentist has suggested a Butterfly bridge as a more permanent solution.
Has anyone had any experience of these,or would an implant be better?
Thanks.
JYD.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Butterfly bridge is also known as a resin bonded bridge or a Maryland bridge. I will post later there a good option in the medium to long term. An implant may be an option also.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Bridgework is basicaly where a false tooth (a pontic) is placed up against the gum in a space. It is support on one or both sides by crowns (conventional bridge) or thin metal wings (resin bonded bridge, Maryland bridge).

A Maryland bridge is cemented onto the back of the supporting tooth using a very stong cement that bond to both metal and tooth.

Advantages of A Margland Bridge.
1. Quick and relativly cheap.
2. Good aesthetics if done well
3. Little or not preparation to the teeth either side of the gap.
4. Good in spaces where space is tight or limited.
5. Much much better than a denture.

Disadvantages
1. Medium term option 5-7 years.
2. Can debond but usually can be recemented.
3. Metal on the back of your teeth, this is silver in colour.
4. Have to clean underneath the pontic.
5. Not as good as an implant does not hold the bone.
6. Need to be thick for strength. Little thin ones are the one that fall off.

I do loads in practice and think they are a great second option to a dental implant. Here is one I did after orthodontic treatment on the right of the picture, along with a few other bits and bobs. Still doing fine after 4 years.

junkyarddog

Thank you for the detailed reply,
just a couple of extra questions.
1,if I get the bridge and it fails/or needs replacing can I then opt for a implant at a later time?
2,The missing Tooth got knocked out a good few years ago,it came out complete and was put back in.(not by a Dentist)
It lasted untill about 5 years ago when I had to have it removed,
is it possible that my gum/bone was damaged is now unable to have a implant fitted?
Thanks again,
JYD.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Implants require bone. If there is missing bone cue to trauma or because you have waited a long time before getting and implant, new bone can be grafted into the site (simple predictable proceedure using artificial bone scafold). Waiting for a few years will mean you have less bone. See in the photos above where the false tooth doesnt look like its coming out of the gum, that because the bone is all gone. Grafting would have solved this but generally that is done for implant cases.

DaveTwenty7

JYD you can get an implant if the bridgework fails or you want a more permanent solution in the future but as fitzgene said bone grafting maybe required

junkyarddog

Thank you both for your info,
I really appreciate it.
Got my braces taken off today,just getting used to the retainers now.
I'll make an appointment with my dentist to discuss my options,
cheers,
JYD.

narddog

I've had a MB for about 6 years. While a step up from a denture, I've had 3 problems with mine:
1- It can come loose. Mine did and had to be cemented back in place.
2 - The wings on the bridge can make the surrounding teeth appear slightly dark.
3 - It's hard to floss .

Implants are, by far, the best option, but are expensive.

ardmacha

Could you have a bridge secured on a implant on one side ad with a Maryland connection on the other side? As I understand a cantilever bridge is only used going backward, because of possible rotational stress. I have two missing teeth, it may prove easier to get an implant in the forward of these gaps, but there may be issues in the second slot (long story). I don't want to grind away a lot of the tooth on the other side, so I wondered if a Maryland connection would work there, basically to stop rotation of the bridge.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Implants have antirotation built into their connection as long as the implant is nice and long it usually works out very well, you wouldnt need another abutment you can cantillever forwards and backwards depending on the bite and the design. The problems is that an implant and tooth move in very different ways and the resin wing will tend to debond and cause decay, best option might be two implants with two single crowns (always possible with grafting), really need a good examination and x-ray assessment.