Three Ways to Fill a Gap
What each option asks of your remaining teeth and your jawbone, how long each one takes, what each costs at our Lanark practice, and how to choose.
Should a Single Missing Tooth Be Replaced with an Implant, a Bridge or a Denture?
Where the teeth on each side of the gap are healthy and you want a fixed tooth that lasts as long as possible, an implant is generally the strongest option; at Lanark an implant with its crown starts at £2,775. A bridge is also fixed and can be finished sooner, but it leans on the neighbouring teeth for support; a conventional bridge costs £695 per unit. A small acrylic denture, from £565, has the lowest starting cost, but it comes out and usually has to be replaced in time.
How the Options Work
Implant. A titanium post is placed in the jawbone in the spot the root once occupied. Across two to three months or so, bone bonds to its surface, after which a crown is fixed on top, either screwed or cemented. The teeth either side are left alone.
Bridge. The replacement tooth is anchored by the teeth next to the gap. With a conventional bridge, those neighbouring teeth are filed down and crowned, and the false tooth is attached between them. A resin-retained (Maryland) bridge takes a lighter approach: a slim metal or ceramic wing is bonded to the back of a neighbouring tooth, which needs little or no drilling.
Denture. A plate you can take out, carrying the false tooth and held in place either by small clasps on nearby teeth or by suction on the gum. It comes out for cleaning and, usually, at night.
Side by Side
| Feature | Implant | Bridge | Denture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Removable? | No | No | Yes |
| Effect on other teeth | None | Neighbours filed down (conventional) or a wing bonded to one (resin) | Clasps sit against nearby teeth |
| Helps preserve the jawbone | Yes | No | No |
| Typical lifespan | Implant lasts decades with good care; the crown may need replacing | Often 10 to 15 years | Often 5 to 10 years |
| Time to finish | Roughly 3 to 4 months | Roughly 2 to 3 weeks | Roughly 3 to 5 weeks |
| Starting fee | £2,775 | £695 per unit | £565 |
Not Sure Which to Choose?
One free consultation in Lanark covers all three options, and you leave with fees and timings in writing.
When an Implant Is the Right Fit
We usually lean towards an implant when the teeth next to the gap are sound and free of fillings, since it leaves them completely untouched. No other option keeps transmitting chewing forces into the jawbone, so the gum and ridge hold their shape instead of gradually sinking. That counts most at the front, where a dip in the gumline is noticeable.
What you trade for that is time and a minor operation. The implant goes in with the area numbed (IV sedation is available), and then there's a healing period before the crown. Planning needs a CT scan (£160), and now and then a bone graft. An implant can't decay, though the gum around it still needs cleaning every day and regular hygiene appointments.
When a Bridge Makes More Sense
Where the neighbouring teeth already carry big fillings or crowns, preparing them for a bridge takes little away, and you get a fixed tooth within a couple of weeks with no surgery. To replace a front tooth next to a strong, healthy neighbour, a resin-retained bridge (£750 per unit) is a gentle option needing hardly any drilling, although it may occasionally come loose.
The drawbacks: a conventional bridge takes healthy tooth structure from the supporting teeth, it's trickier to clean beneath, and the bone under the false tooth goes on shrinking, so a small gap can appear underneath over the years. And if one supporting tooth fails, the entire bridge usually needs replacing.
When a Denture Fits Best
Dentures work well for people with several gaps in different parts of the mouth, for anyone for whom surgery isn't advisable right now, and when budget is the main concern. Today's acrylic dentures can look convincingly natural, while a cobalt chrome framework (£1,200) is thinner and stronger where gaps are larger.
A denture can also be a sensible interim step. It keeps the space open while you make up your mind, and it's what most people wear over the gap while an implant heals. On the other hand, it shifts slightly, can feel bulky and doesn't prevent bone loss, so over time it becomes loose and needs a reline (£110) or a remake.
The Longer View
On day one, a denture costs least and an implant most. Across ten or twenty years, the picture can shift. A conventional three-unit bridge totals around £2,085 and may have to be redone once or twice, together with any supporting tooth that gives way. Dentures need relining and eventually replacing. Once an implant has healed, it mainly needs cleaning and dental examinations, although the crown may be renewed at some point.
Whichever you choose, the fee is fixed in your written plan before treatment starts, and dental plan members get 10% off bridges and dentures, though not implants. Every implant fee is set out item by item in our implant cost guide.
Making the Decision with You
During a free consultation we examine the gap, the neighbouring teeth, your gums and the way your teeth bite together. If an implant looks realistic, we'll take a CT scan. We then talk through all three options, covering cost, timescale and risks, and tell you which we'd choose in your shoes and why. Sometimes the straight answer is a bridge, a denture, or simply leaving a gap at the back for the time being. You take the written plan home and decide when you're ready.
Questions
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. A dentist needs to examine you to say what is right for your teeth.