Maryland Bridgework needs replacing after 22 years - so nervous, advice please.

[CJM]

I am an extremely nervous/anxious dental patient. 22 years ago I had 4 veneers on my front upper teeth and each side of the front 2 upper teeth I had maryland bridgework attached to single teeth (one each side). Since last summer I noticed I had some food trapped under my bridge and after releasing the debris I have had on and off pain/burning and gum irritation. No bleeding. The dentist confirmed a small gap has appeared in the bridgework which is the cause although it is still firmly attached. I feel the problem is not going to go away despite sometimes it feels like it may so I need to book for it to be removed and a new one attached. My dentist told me from removing the bridgework it will be 2 weeks before a new tooth/maryland bridge is made in a lab and then fitted.

My main worries which I hope someone can answer are the following:

1) I do not like numbing gel or injections unless absolutely necessary, will removing the bridge be a relatively simple process? How is it done (as much detail as possible please).
2) Will my remaining teeth drift into gap in the two week wait whilst I have nothing there? The dentist did mention the possibility of putting something in the gap if I were self conscious but I thought if it is only 2 weeks by the time they make it it would be nearly time to come back for the maryland to be fitted so I said no to this.
3) Is there any possibility of saving the original false tooth that is attached to the maryland bridge I have currently after they remove it?
4) will removing the bridgework of the tooth with the veneer cause the veneer to come off?
Thanks for any information.

 

[Gordon]

1) I do not like numbing gel or injections unless absolutely necessary, will removing the bridge be a relatively simple process? How is it done (as much detail as possible please).

Shouldn't need any local at all. I'd probably just carefully grind away the metal bit with a handpiece, from the patient's POV it'd be the same as a filling. It shouldn't involve touching your natural tooth at all, therefore no need for local.

2) Will my remaining teeth drift into gap in the two week wait whilst I have nothing there? The dentist did mention the possibility of putting something in the gap if I were self conscious but I thought if it is only 2 weeks by the time they make it it would be nearly time to come back for the maryland to be fitted so I said no to this.

Not likely to happen. You could have a small partial denture made in advance to go in at the removal appointment.

3) Is there any possibility of saving the original false tooth that is attached to the maryland bridge I have currently after they remove it?

I don't think so, no.

4) will removing the bridgework of the tooth with the veneer cause the veneer to come off?
Thanks for any information.

No.