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It wasn’t the University of Maryland.
Here is the story as given to me by Chip Halbauer, son of Dr. Stewart R Halbauer:
It’s amazing to me that people come up to my father telling him that the bridge he put in 30 years ago is still holding up. The short story is that, back in the 60s, a Proctor and Gamble executive came to my father because he didn’t want a partial and his bridges never lasted. My father built the so-called Maryland Bridge for him and he was a happy patient for years to come. According to my father’s colleague, Dr Harvey Oury, the P&G executive retired and moved to Maryland where his new dentist Dr. Livaditis, along with Dr Van Thompson, were amazed at the bridge. Instead of seeking out my father they took the idea and developed it at the University of Maryland as their own idea. I am trying gather his old dental records and patents to prove this fact. Again. I don’t want any money nor do I want to embarrass the other doctors! I just want to have my dad’s legacy known as my gift to him and his ailing health.
A Maryland Bridge
Thanks for that story, Chip. In all fairness, I guess we should rename the Maryland Bridge the Halbauer Bridge. Maybe that will catch on!
– Dr. Hall
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About David A. Hall
Dr. David A. Hall was one of the first 40 accredited cosmetic dentists in the world. He practiced cosmetic dentistry in Iowa, and in 1990 earned his accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is now president of Infinity Dental Web, a company in Mesa, Arizona that does advanced internet marketing for dentists.
I’ve heard of the Maryland bridge. That’s very interesting and ultimately am happy it worked out for your father.
I have a Maryland cantilever bridge that was put in 60 years ago. Clearly I am old! Recession, older yellowing materials … have made it necessary to replace. Gum grafts first and then hardware and pontic replacement. Dr. Stanley Smith in Beaumont, Texas did this work. He died several years ago, but I still am grateful to him on a daily basis. He was a brilliant man and gave me a smile. Over the years when I’ve been told it isn’t a good procedure due to the short life span of the bridge, I think, “another 60 years will be just fine for me.”
I have a Maryland bridge installed for me in Passaic, N.J. around 1952 by Dr. Albert Seitzman. He called it a 3/4 bridge. It has wings that clip into the natural teeth on either side. It is still fine. I hope to find another dentist with his skill.
Great post and interesting. This site provides excellent quality content. It’s great how you were able to draw out this piece of history from your readers and provide a piece of information that no one else has.
I have a Maryland Bridge that was put in by Dr. Sandford Biers. I have had it for over 25 yrs. I retired in 1997 & it was installed long before I retired.
Doug
My “Maryland Bridge” (Halbauer bridge!) lasted 37 years until I tripped on a sidewalk and ‘face planted” last week….which was devastating to me. I knocked out my front tooth. (The bridge, knocked out origionally in childhood) A few days later it was put back, (not quite as perfectly as the dentist did 37 yrs ago) at Eastman Dentistry, University of Rochester, NY. The Dentists there (perhaps residents in their program) peered at my tooth when I presented it as if it was something from an archeological dig. “Wow, I haven’t seen one of those for a long time”, they said. They told me putting it back in wouldn’t last long, and the Maryland Bridge wasn’t meant to be permanent. I insisted I wanted my tooth back. So she patched it back in. I believe it would have lasted forever, my origional dentist did such a beautiful job. It is so encouraging to see the other comments here, from people who have very very long-lasting Maryland/ Halbauer Bridges. Thankyou.