If you have lost a single front tooth and the teeth either side are healthy, you may not need to have those neighbours cut down for crowns. A Maryland bridge, also called a resin-bonded bridge, holds the replacement tooth in place with a thin wing glued to the back of the tooth next to the gap. Very little or no enamel is removed, and the wing sits out of sight behind the tooth.
It is not the right answer for every gap, and the bond can let go. For the right tooth in the right mouth, though, the long-term results are good.
A wing on the back of the neighbouring tooth does the work
The false tooth (the pontic) is made in the lab with a thin metal or ceramic wing attached. The back surface of the supporting tooth is cleaned and prepared, and the wing is bonded to its enamel with resin cement. Modern designs often use a single wing on one neighbour only, leaving the false tooth cantilevered from that side.
A conventional bridge works differently. It places a crown on the teeth either side of the gap, which means reshaping both of them all the way around. When those teeth already have large fillings that can make sense, but when they are healthy and untouched it removes a lot of sound tooth. An implant replaces the root instead and leaves the neighbours alone, but it needs surgery and healing time. Our guide to implants, bridges and dentures compares all three in more depth.
Most resin-bonded bridges are still in place after five years
A systematic review of 29 studies covering about 2,300 resin-bonded bridges estimated survival at 91.4% after five years and 82.9% after ten (Thoma and colleagues, Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2017). The same review found higher survival for bridges with one retaining wing than for those with two or more, for zirconia frameworks compared with other materials, and for front teeth compared with back teeth.
Some single-wing zirconia bridges have done better still. A clinical study from Kiel followed cantilevered zirconia bridges replacing front teeth and reported 98.2% survival at ten years (Kern and colleagues, Journal of Dentistry, 2017). That figure comes from one experienced centre, so it shows what is possible rather than what every patient should expect.
Debonding is the usual problem, and often fixable
The most common complication is the wing coming unstuck. In the Thoma review this happened in about 15% of bridges, and an earlier review by Pjetursson and colleagues (2008) reported a debonding rate of 19.2% over five years. In the Kiel study, every bridge that came loose was successfully rebonded.
Single-wing designs tend to debond less, which is one reason they are now widely used for front teeth. A 2024 meta-analysis of ceramic cantilever bridges for front teeth found fewer complications with one wing than with two, though no difference in outright failure (Alqutaibi and colleagues, Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry). A further one-wing versus two-wing comparison is in our article on one-wing and two-wing resin-bonded bridges.
If a bridge does come loose, keep it somewhere safe, avoid biting on that area and contact your dentist. If the fit is still good, the same bridge can often be cleaned and bonded again.
Front teeth with healthy neighbours suit it best
A resin-bonded bridge tends to work well when:
- the gap is a single tooth, most often at the front of the mouth
- the supporting tooth is healthy, with enough sound enamel to bond to
- your bite does not put heavy force on that spot
It is less predictable for back teeth, which take larger chewing loads, and for people who grind heavily. If the neighbouring tooth already has a large filling or crown, a conventional bridge or an implant may be the safer plan.
Resin-bonded bridges are also useful for teenagers who have lost a front tooth through injury or were born without one. Implants are usually delayed until jaw growth has finished, and a bonded bridge can fill the gap for many years in the meantime, or indefinitely if it continues to work well. When the time comes, our guide to dental implant costs explains what is involved.
Typical costs across the market
| Option | Typical market range | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Resin-bonded (Maryland) bridge | Varies with materials and design; ask for a written treatment plan with fees | May debond and need rebonding |
| Three-unit conventional bridge | $3,500 to $6,500 | Both neighbouring teeth are reshaped for crowns |
| Single implant with crown | $4,000 to $7,000 | Needs surgery and healing time |
These are typical Australian market ranges, not Lumi fees. A written treatment plan with fees follows an examination, and you can check our current offers for any consultation offers.
Common questions about Maryland bridges
Will people see the wing?
Usually not. The wing sits behind the supporting tooth and the false tooth is shade-matched to your own. With a metal wing, a little greyness can sometimes show through a thin front tooth, which is one reason ceramic wings are often chosen.
How do I clean around it?
Use a floss threader, superfloss or a small interdental brush under the false tooth each day, as you would with any bridge. Keeping the area clean protects both the gum and the supporting tooth.
Can a resin-bonded bridge replace a back tooth?
Sometimes, but the results are less predictable because back teeth take heavier forces. Your dentist can tell you whether another option would be more reliable for that position.
Is it a better choice than an implant?
Neither is better in every case. A bonded bridge avoids surgery and keeps the supporting tooth largely intact, while an implant stands on its own and does not rely on a bond. Your age, the health of the neighbouring teeth and your bite all shape the decision.
Talking through your gap
If you are missing a front tooth and want to keep your healthy teeth as they are, a resin-bonded bridge is worth asking about. You can read more about crowns and bridges at Lumi Dental, see our current offers, or compare all your options in our missing tooth guide.
