Losing a tooth can affect how you eat, speak and feel about your smile. The good news is that there are several well-established ways to replace one, and the right choice depends on your teeth, your gums, your budget and what matters most to you. This guide explains each option in plain language so you know what to ask about.
Why replace a missing tooth at all?
A gap is not only a cosmetic issue. Neighbouring teeth can drift into the space, the tooth opposite can grow out of position, and the jawbone where the tooth was can slowly shrink. Replacing the tooth helps to protect your bite and your remaining teeth, though not everyone chooses to, and that is a decision for you.
Dental implants
A dental implant is a small titanium post placed in the jawbone, which acts like a tooth root. A crown is then fitted on top, so the replacement looks and feels much like a natural tooth.
- Advantages: it stands on its own, so neighbouring teeth are not cut down, and it helps to preserve the jawbone. With good care it can last many years.
- Things to consider: it needs a minor surgical procedure, enough healthy bone and gum, and several months from start to finish. It is usually the highest upfront cost of the options.
Read more in our full guide to dental implants. We have CBCT scanning on site, which helps us plan placement carefully.
Conventional bridges
A conventional bridge replaces the missing tooth with a false tooth that is held in place by crowns on the teeth either side of the gap. It is cemented in, so it is fixed and does not come out.
- Advantages: it is fixed, looks natural, and is usually completed in a few visits without surgery.
- Things to consider: the teeth either side must be shaped down to take the crowns, which removes healthy tooth structure and cannot be undone. You also need to clean carefully underneath the bridge, and it may eventually need replacing.
Resin-bonded bridges (RBB)
A resin-bonded bridge, sometimes called a Maryland bridge, is a more conservative kind of bridge. The false tooth has a thin metal or ceramic wing that is bonded to the back of a neighbouring tooth, so very little of that tooth needs to be removed.
- Advantages: minimal preparation of the neighbouring tooth, quick to complete, and no surgery.
- Things to consider: the bond is not as strong as a conventional bridge, so it can occasionally come loose, and it suits some gaps better than others. It tends to work best where the neighbouring tooth is healthy and the bite is not too heavy.
Dentures
A partial denture is a removable appliance with one or more replacement teeth. A full denture replaces all the teeth in an arch. Dentures are made to measure from impressions of your mouth.
- Advantages: no surgery and no cutting down of other teeth, they can replace several teeth at once, and they are often the quickest and most affordable option.
- Things to consider: they are removable, so need to be taken out and cleaned each day, and some people find them less stable or comfortable than fixed options. They may need adjusting over time as your mouth changes.
Our Denture Centre offers denture examinations, consultations and treatment plans from clinical dental technicians with long experience of denture care.
How do you choose?
There is rarely one right answer for everyone. We usually talk through:
- Where the gap is, and how many teeth are missing.
- The health of the neighbouring teeth and your gums.
- How much bone you have.
- How long you want the replacement to last.
- Your budget, and how quickly you would like it done.
We will explain the pros and cons of each option that suits you and give you a written estimate before anything begins. Our fees page lists our prices.
Talk to us
If you have lost a tooth, or are about to, the best first step is a consultation. Book online or call us on 01908 015531. You can also meet our team beforehand. This guide is general information, and your dentist will advise on what is right for you.
