Missing a Tooth? Implant, Bridge or Partial Denture: How to Choose

Losing a tooth, whether to decay, a crack or an accident, leaves you with a decision. Leaving the gap is an option, but it is rarely the best one for long. This article explains the three common ways to fill it, so you can come to your consultation knowing what to ask.

Why a gap is worth filling

A gap affects more than your smile. Over time, the teeth on either side can tilt into the space, and the tooth above or below it can drift out of line because it has nothing to bite against. Many people start chewing only on the other side. The bone that held the tooth also slowly shrinks once the root is gone, which can make some options harder later.

None of this happens overnight, and not every gap needs treatment straight away, especially at the back of the mouth. But it is worth discussing early, while all three options are still open to you.

Option 1: a dental implant

A dental implant is a small titanium post placed in the jawbone where the root used to be. Once the bone has healed around it, a crown is fixed on top. It looks and works like a single tooth, and it stands on its own: the teeth next to the gap are not touched.

• Time: usually a few months from placing the implant to fitting the final crown, because the bone needs to bond with the implant first.
• Needs: healthy gums and enough bone to hold the implant. Where bone has shrunk, extra steps may be needed.
• How long it lasts: a 2019 review of long-term studies found that about 96 in 100 implants were still in place after ten years. Your own result depends on your health, your bite and how well you look after it.
• Cleaning: brush and clean between the teeth as you would a natural tooth, with regular check-ups.

Read more on our dental implants page.

Option 2: a bridge

A bridge is a fixed false tooth held in place by crowns on the teeth either side of the gap. It is cemented in, so you do not take it out.

• Time: usually a couple of visits over one to two weeks, while the bridge is made.
• Needs: strong, healthy teeth on both sides of the gap. These teeth are shaped down to take the crowns, which cannot be undone.
• Cleaning: food can collect under the false tooth, so you clean under it every day with a floss threader or a small interdental brush.
• Good for: someone who wants a fixed tooth without surgery, or whose neighbouring teeth already need crowns.

Option 3: a removable partial denture

A partial denture is a plate carrying one or more false teeth, held in place by small clasps around your natural teeth. You take it out to clean it and usually at night.

• Time: usually a few visits for impressions and fitting.
• Needs: no surgery and little or no change to your other teeth.
• Feel: it can feel bulky at first, and most people need a few weeks to get used to speaking and eating with it.
• Good for: several missing teeth, a tighter budget, or someone who cannot or does not want to have surgery.

Side by side

How to decide

Most people can narrow it down with three questions:

1. Are the teeth either side of the gap healthy? If they are, an implant avoids trimming them. If they already need crowns, a bridge can make sense.
2. Is your general health suitable for a minor procedure? If not, or if you would rather avoid surgery, a bridge or a denture is the way to go.
3. How many teeth are missing? One tooth is often an implant or a bridge. Several gaps on the same jaw are often simpler with a partial denture.

At Vinaykia Dental Care, every decision starts with an examination and an X-ray, so we can see your gums, bone and neighbouring teeth before recommending anything. We explain every option that suits you, with its cost, before treatment begins. You decide.

This article is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. What suits you depends on an examination at the clinic, and every treatment plan and cost is explained before treatment begins.

More on dental implants · all articles