Implant, Bridge, Denture?
When you lose a single tooth, there are three main ways to fill the gap. Each has real advantages and real drawbacks, and the best one for you depends on more than price. Here is how they compare.
Should I Get an Implant, Bridge or Denture for a Missing Tooth?
For one missing tooth, an implant is usually the longest-lasting option and leaves neighbouring teeth untouched, a bridge is quicker and avoids surgery, and a partial denture is the simplest and least costly. At Comely Bank Dental in Edinburgh, a single implant with its crown is £2,900, a conventional bridge is from £680, a resin-bonded bridge is from £800 and a partial denture is from £770. The right choice depends on your neighbouring teeth, bone, health and priorities.
Which Is Best for One Missing Tooth?
There is no single best option for everyone. For many people, an implant is the most durable way to replace one tooth, because it stands on its own and doesn't rely on the teeth either side. But a bridge can be an excellent choice where the neighbouring teeth already need crowns, and a partial denture is a sensible option where surgery isn't suitable or cost is the main concern.
At Comely Bank Dental in Edinburgh, I talk through all three with every patient who has a gap. Leaving the gap alone is also an option, and for some back teeth it is a reasonable one, though neighbouring teeth can drift and the opposing tooth can over-erupt over time.
The comparison below sets out the main differences. The sections after it explain each option and who it tends to suit.
How Do the Three Options Compare?
| Feature | Implant | Conventional bridge | Resin-bonded bridge | Partial denture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guide fee | £2,900 | from £680 | from £800 | from £770 |
| Typical lifespan | Implant often decades; crown 10–15+ years | 10–15 years | Variable; may need re-bonding | 5–10 years, often with adjustments |
| Neighbouring teeth | Untouched | Usually trimmed for crowns | Minimal or no trimming | Clasps rest on them |
| Bone where tooth was | Helps preserve it | Continues to shrink | Continues to shrink | Continues to shrink |
| Surgery | Yes | No | No | No |
| Removable | No | No | No | Yes |
| Usual timescale | 3–6 months | 2–3 weeks | 2–3 weeks | 2–4 weeks |
These figures are typical, not guaranteed. Fees are guide prices and are confirmed in a written treatment plan before anything starts.
Not Sure Which Option Suits You?
Book a free implant consultation in Comely Bank. We'll look at the gap, your neighbouring teeth and your bone, and talk through every option, not just implants.
What Does an Implant Involve?
A dental implant is a small titanium post placed in the jaw where the root used to be. Once it has bonded with the bone, a crown is fitted on top.
Advantages:
- It doesn't involve the neighbouring teeth.
- It feels and functions much like a natural tooth.
- It loads the bone, which helps slow the shrinkage that follows tooth loss.
- The implant itself can last for decades with good care.
Drawbacks:
- It needs minor surgery and a healing period, usually around three months before the crown.
- There must be enough bone, or a graft may be needed first.
- It has the highest initial fee of the three.
I plan each implant on a 3D CT scan taken at the practice and place it through a 3D-printed guide using the MegaGen R2 system. IV sedation is available if you are anxious. Our dental implants page has more detail.
What Does a Bridge Involve?
A bridge fills the gap with a false tooth held in place by the teeth either side. There are two main types.
A conventional bridge uses crowns on one or both neighbouring teeth to hold the false tooth. Those teeth are trimmed to make room for the crowns. It is fixed, strong and can look very natural. It makes most sense when the neighbouring teeth already have large fillings or crowns, because they would benefit from crowning anyway.
A resin-bonded bridge has a thin wing bonded to the back of a neighbouring tooth, with little or no trimming. It is conservative and quick, and often works well for front teeth where the bite is favourable. Its main weakness is that it can come unstuck, although it can usually be re-bonded.
Drawbacks of both: the bone under the false tooth continues to shrink, cleaning under the bridge needs a little extra care, and if a supporting tooth develops a problem, the whole bridge may be affected. See our dental bridges page for more.
What Does a Partial Denture Involve?
A partial denture is a removable plate carrying one or more false teeth. It is held in place by clasps around the neighbouring teeth, or by its fit against the gum and palate.
Advantages:
- It is the least costly and least invasive option.
- It can be made quickly, including as an immediate denture on the day a tooth is taken out.
- It can be added to if other teeth are lost later.
Drawbacks:
- It comes out for cleaning and usually at night, which some people dislike.
- It can feel bulky at first and may affect speech for a short while.
- Clasps can collect plaque around the neighbouring teeth.
- It does not slow bone shrinkage, so it may need relining or replacing over the years.
Partial dentures can be made in acrylic or with a thin chrome-cobalt framework, which is usually stronger and less bulky. Our dentures page explains the options.
What Happens to the Neighbouring Teeth and Bone?
This is often the deciding factor, so it is worth understanding.
Neighbouring teeth. An implant leaves them alone. A conventional bridge usually means crowning them, which removes healthy tooth structure and, in a small number of cases, can affect the nerve of the tooth over time. A resin-bonded bridge needs little or no trimming. A denture rests on the neighbouring teeth through its clasps, which can make them harder to keep clean.
Bone. After a tooth is lost, the bone that held it gradually shrinks, fastest in the first few months. An implant transmits chewing forces into the bone, which helps maintain it. A bridge or denture sits on the gum and does not, so the ridge continues to slowly change shape. At the front of the mouth, this can eventually create a small dip under a bridge, which may be visible if you have a high smile line.
How Long Does Each Option Take?
Bridge: usually two appointments about two to three weeks apart. The teeth are prepared and scanned at the first visit, and the bridge is fitted at the second. A temporary may be fitted in between.
Partial denture: typically two to four appointments over a few weeks, for impressions, a try-in and fitting, followed by adjustments as needed.
Implant: a longer process. After the consultation and CT scan, the implant is placed at a single appointment. It then heals for around three months, longer if a graft was needed, before the crown is made from a digital iTero scan and fitted. Overall, three to six months is typical. A temporary tooth can be provided in the meantime, which is especially important for front teeth.
If a tooth is about to be extracted, it is worth planning the replacement before it comes out, as that can shorten the overall timescale.
Who Suits Each Option?
An implant often suits you if:
- your neighbouring teeth are healthy and you want to keep them untouched;
- you want a fixed, long-term solution and are happy to wait a few months;
- you are in good general health and don't smoke heavily.
A bridge often suits you if:
- the neighbouring teeth already have large fillings or crowns;
- you would rather avoid surgery;
- you want a fixed tooth relatively quickly.
A partial denture often suits you if:
- surgery isn't advisable for medical reasons;
- you are missing more than one tooth, or may lose others;
- cost is the main consideration, or you want a temporary solution while deciding.
Fees for every option are agreed in writing before treatment begins, and members of our dental plan save 10% on most private treatment.
Questions
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. A dentist needs to examine you to say what is right for your teeth.