The false tooth
A ceramic tooth shaped and shaded to match your own front teeth. It sits on the gum where the missing tooth was, without a root.
Resin-bonded bridge
Maryland Bridge in Dubai: Replacing a Front Tooth Without Crowning the Neighbours
A Maryland (resin-bonded) bridge holds a false tooth with a thin wing bonded behind a neighbouring tooth. It replaces one missing front tooth with little or no drilling.
- Made by the lab in our building
- Little or no drilling of neighbours
- Written itemised plan first
If you are waiting for an implant or finishing braces, mention it when you book.
Quick answer
What is a Maryland bridge?
A Maryland bridge, also called a resin-bonded bridge, replaces a missing tooth with a false tooth attached to a thin wing that is bonded to the back of a neighbouring tooth. Unlike a conventional bridge, the neighbours are not crowned, so little or no drilling is needed. It mainly suits a single missing front tooth with healthy neighbours. At Creative Arts in Dubai the bridge is designed by your dentist and made in the dental lab in our building.
Who treats you here Dr. Khalid Saeed Co-founder & Dentist · Dr. Kinan Bonni Dentist · Dr. Marina Antoniuk Dentist
Every dentist’s licence can be checked on the DHA Sheryan medical directory.
27 yearsIn-house dental laboratory in the same building
Written planItemised treatment plan before you commit
Open daily10:00–20:00, seven days a week
Jumeirah 3614 Jumeira St, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
How it works
What is a Maryland bridge made of?
Three parts, each designed for your gap and your bite, then made by the lab in our building.
The wing
A thin plate joined to the false tooth that lies against the inside surface of a neighbouring tooth, out of sight when you smile. Many dentists now prefer a single wing on one neighbour for front teeth.
The bond
The wing is fixed to the enamel of the neighbour with dental adhesive and resin cement. A strong bond needs healthy enamel, which is why neighbours with large fillings are less suitable.
Compare options
Maryland bridge, conventional bridge or implant?
Three fixed ways to replace one missing front tooth. None is right for everyone; the condition of the neighbouring teeth, the bone and your bite decide.
| Maryland bridge | Conventional bridge | Implant crown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effect on neighbouring teeth | Little or no drilling; a wing bonded behind one tooth | Both neighbours are shaped for crowns | Neighbours untouched |
| Surgery | None | None | Implant placement, sometimes with bone grafting |
| Typical timeline | Weeks | Weeks | Months, while the implant integrates |
| Best when | Healthy neighbours, gentle bite, single front tooth; also as a bridge until an implant is possible | Neighbours already need crowns | Enough bone, growth complete, and you want neighbours left alone |
| Main weak point | Debonding, often re-bondable | Decay or nerve problems under the crowned teeth | Gum and bone health around the implant |
| Reversibility | Largely reversible if little enamel was shaped | Not reversible | Not reversible |
Our guide to tooth replacement options compares every option, and dental bridges covers conventional and implant-supported bridges in detail.
Is it right for you?
Who is a Maryland bridge suitable for?
A resin-bonded bridge works well in the right mouth and poorly in the wrong one. These are the points checked at your assessment.
Usually suitable
- One missing upper or lower front tooth
- Neighbouring teeth that are healthy, with little or no filling on the inner surface
- Enough room behind the teeth in your bite for a thin wing
- Teenagers and young adults waiting until growth is complete for an implant
- Patients who prefer not to have surgery or crowns on healthy teeth
Usually not the first choice
- Heavy grinding or clenching that loads the front teeth
- A deep bite where the lower teeth hit the area the wing needs
- Neighbours that are loose, heavily filled or already need crowns
- Back teeth carrying heavy chewing forces, in most cases
Teenagers
Is a Maryland bridge a good option for teenagers before an implant?
Often, yes. Implants are usually not placed until the jaws have finished growing, because an implant does not move with growth the way natural teeth do and can end up sitting higher than its neighbours. For a teenager missing a front tooth, whether from an accident or because the tooth never formed, a resin-bonded bridge can fill the gap for several years with little or no drilling of healthy teeth.
When the tooth never developed, which is common with the upper lateral incisors, braces are often needed first to open or close the space correctly. Our page on congenitally missing teeth explains how orthodontics and replacement are planned together, and a retainer may need to hold the space until the bridge is fitted. Later, the bridge can usually be removed for an implant, or kept if it is doing well. If you are unsure whether to replace the tooth at all, see what happens if you don't replace a missing tooth.
The process
How is a Maryland bridge made and fitted?
Most resin-bonded bridges take two main visits, with lab work in between.
Assessment
Your dentist checks the gap, the neighbouring teeth, gum health and your bite, with X-rays where needed. You receive a written, itemised plan with the alternatives.
Visit 1Preparation and scan
If needed, a small amount of enamel is shaped behind the neighbour so the wing seats precisely without changing your bite. The teeth are then scanned. Many patients need no anaesthetic for this step.
Visit 1Design and making
The lab designs the false tooth and wing and makes them in ceramic, matching the shade to your teeth, typically in 3–5 working days.
LabBonding
The bridge is tried in, the fit and colour checked, then the wing is bonded to clean, isolated enamel with adhesive and resin cement.
Visit 2Bite check and review
The bite is adjusted so the wing is not knocked when you close or bite into food, and a review visit checks the bond and gum.
Review
Longevity
How long does a resin-bonded bridge last?
There is no fixed lifespan. A well-designed Maryland bridge on healthy enamel can last many years, but its weak point is the bond. The commonest problem is the wing coming unstuck, often after biting into something hard or as a result of grinding. When the bridge and the enamel are undamaged, it can usually be cleaned and re-bonded.
If a two-wing bridge loosens on one side only, the loose side can trap plaque without you noticing, which is one reason single-wing designs are now widely used for front teeth. Seek a check if the false tooth feels different, moves, or if food or a bad taste collects behind it. Because nothing goes under the gum or into the bone, problems are usually easier to deal with than with other options. Our guide to dental bridge problems covers what can go wrong with any bridge. To protect the bond, clean under the false tooth with floss threaders or a small interdental brush, avoid biting hard foods with it, and ask about a night guard if you grind.
From dentist to dental lab
How your restoration is designed and made
The laboratory that makes your ceramic work is in the same building as the clinic. The ceramist can see your teeth under the same light as your dentist, rather than working from photographs sent to an outside supplier — which is where shade, surface texture and edge translucency are decided.
- 1Consultation & records — examination, photographs and the radiographs your case needs
- 2Digital scan — an intraoral scan replaces impression trays for most cases
- 3Design — the restoration or smile is designed digitally and reviewed with you
- 4Lab fabrication — milled from ceramic, then hand-finished for shade and texture
- 5Try-in — shade, shape and fit checked in your mouth, adjusted in-house if needed
- 6Placement & review — bonded or cemented, bite balanced, reviewed afterwards
Cost
What affects the cost of a Maryland bridge?
Your written plan lists each item. These are the factors that change it.
- DesignA single-wing or two-wing design, and whether the false tooth needs special shaping for the gum.
- MaterialThe ceramic chosen for the false tooth and wing, decided by space, bite and appearance.
- Preparation workAny treatment needed first, such as gum care, a replacement filling on the neighbour or orthodontic space opening.
- Aesthetic complexityMatching a single front tooth to natural neighbours can need extra shade work in the lab.
Who treats you
Dentists who plan and fit Maryland bridges at Creative Arts
Dr. Khalid Saeed, co-founder of Creative Arts, Dr. Kinan Bonni and Dr. Marina Antoniuk plan and fit bridges and crowns, working with Creative Art Dental Lab in the same building.
Patient questions
Frequently asked questions
Does a Maryland bridge need drilling of the neighbouring teeth?
Little or none. Unlike a conventional bridge, where both neighbours are shaped for crowns, a Maryland bridge is bonded to the inside surface of a neighbouring tooth. Sometimes a small amount of enamel is shaped there so the wing seats precisely and does not interfere with the bite, but the visible front of the tooth is left as it is.
How long does a Maryland bridge last?
There is no fixed lifespan. A well-planned resin-bonded bridge on healthy enamel can last many years. Its main weakness is the bond, which can loosen after biting something hard or with grinding. If the bridge and the enamel are undamaged, it can usually be cleaned and re-bonded, often in a single visit.
Is a Maryland bridge good for teenagers before an implant?
Often, yes. Implants are usually delayed until jaw growth is complete, and a Maryland bridge can fill a front-tooth gap in the meantime without crowning healthy teeth. Where a tooth never formed, braces may be needed first to set the right space. Later, the bridge can usually be removed for an implant, or kept if it is still working well.
Can a Maryland bridge replace a back tooth?
Sometimes, but it is less common. Back teeth take much heavier chewing forces, which strain the bond. A resin-bonded bridge may be considered for a premolar gap in a gentle bite with healthy neighbours; molar gaps are usually better served by an implant or a conventional bridge.
What happens if my Maryland bridge comes off?
Keep it safe and dry, avoid gluing it back yourself, and contact the clinic during opening hours, daily 10:00–20:00. If the bridge and the tooth are undamaged, the surfaces can usually be cleaned and the bridge re-bonded. If it keeps coming off, the design, the bite or grinding is reviewed, and another option may be suggested.
Is a Maryland bridge visible when I smile?
The wing sits on the inside of the neighbouring tooth, so it is not usually visible from the front. With very thin or translucent front teeth, a dark metal wing could show through slightly, which is one reason ceramic wings are often chosen. The false tooth is shaded in the lab to blend with your own teeth.
Maryland bridge or implant for a missing front tooth?
An implant leaves the neighbouring teeth untouched and stands on its own, but needs surgery, enough bone, completed growth and several months. A Maryland bridge needs no surgery and little or no drilling, but relies on a bond and suits a gentle bite. Many patients weigh both with their dentist; some start with a bridge and move to an implant later.
Keep exploring
Related treatments
RestorativeRestorative dentistry in DubaiCrowns, bridges and rehabilitation.BridgesDental bridgesConventional, resin-bonded and implant-supported bridges.ConditionCongenitally missing teethTeeth that never formed, and how gaps are planned.GuideTooth replacement optionsCrown, veneer, bridge or implant compared.ImplantsFront tooth implantReplacing a front tooth with an implant crown.GuideNot replacing a missing toothWhat changes over time if a gap is left.
Visit us
One clinic, in Jumeirah 3 / Umm Suqeim 1
Creative Arts has a single clinic on Jumeira Street (Jumeirah Beach Road). Ask about parking when you book.
- Address614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
- Opening hoursDaily 10:00–20:00, including Friday and Sunday
- Neighbouring areasJumeirah 1–3, Umm Suqeim 1–3, Al Wasl, Al Safa, Al Manara
Our clinic in Jumeirah Open in Google Maps · Rated 4.8 on Google from 238 patient reviews (October 2026) — read them
Book a consultation
Request a consultation
Tell us what you would like to change. The clinic replies within working hours with an appointment time.
- Address614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai · Our clinic in Jumeirah 3 / Umm Suqeim 1
- Opening hoursClinic open daily, 10:00–20:00
- Phone+971 4 342 4444 · WhatsApp +971 56 677 7537
Book Your Consultation
Or call us +971 4 342 4444Or message us on WhatsApp
Talk to a dentist about your case
A consultation ends with a diagnosis and a written, itemised plan — not a sales pitch. Book online, message us on WhatsApp, or call the clinic.