Missing a Tooth? Implant vs Bridge vs Partial Denture

By the team at Bollington Dental Practice, under the clinical direction of Dr Ellie Burrows, Principal Dentist. Updated October 2026.

Losing a tooth, whether to decay, an accident or a root filling that finally gave up, leaves you with two decisions at once: whether to replace it at all, and if so, with what. The three main options are implants, bridges and partial dentures. All of them work well in the right mouth, and they differ a great deal in cost, time, upkeep and what they ask of the teeth around them. This guide sets them side by side with our own published prices, so you can walk into a consultation already knowing which questions matter to you.

The short answer

There is no single right choice, only the right choice for your mouth. An implant replaces the root as well as the tooth and leaves the neighbouring teeth untouched, but it involves a surgical step, takes months and costs the most: here a single implant and restoration is from £3,000. A bridge is fixed and quicker, but a conventional bridge means shaping the teeth beside the gap, and ours are £1,175 for two units and £1,850 for three. A partial denture is the least invasive and most affordable route and can replace several teeth at once, with our dentures from £625 in acrylic and from £1,495 in chrome cobalt. Leaving the gap can also be a reasonable decision, depending on where it is.

What happens if you leave the gap

Not every gap needs filling. A missing tooth right at the back, out of sight and not doing much chewing, may cause no trouble for years, and some people decide to leave it after talking it through with their dentist. A gap is not static, though, and it helps to know what can change over time before you decide.

Neighbouring teeth can drift. Teeth are held in place partly by the teeth beside them. Without a neighbour, the teeth either side can tilt or drift into the space. That can open small gaps elsewhere and create awkward angles that trap food and are harder to keep clean, which raises the risk of decay and gum problems on teeth that were perfectly healthy.

The opposite tooth can over-erupt. A tooth with nothing to bite against can slowly move down, or up, into the gap. Over time this can alter the way your teeth meet, and if you later decide to replace the missing tooth, there may no longer be enough room to do it simply.

The bone shrinks. The jawbone that once held the root is gradually reabsorbed after the tooth has gone. This matters most if you might want an implant one day, because an implant needs enough bone to sit in. It is one good reason to discuss your options within months of losing a tooth rather than years.

Chewing, speech and confidence. Losing a back tooth shifts chewing load onto the teeth that remain. Losing a front tooth can affect some sounds and is obvious when you smile, and many people simply feel more comfortable once it is replaced.

Your three options, honestly compared

A dental implant. A small titanium post is placed into the jawbone under local anaesthetic, left for a few months to bond with the bone, and then fitted with a crown. Because it stands on its own, it does not rely on the neighbouring teeth or need them to be drilled, and it helps to preserve the bone at that spot. Implants suit people with healthy gums, enough bone and reasonable general health. If bone would need building up first, your dentist will explain whether this applies to you. Smoking, poorly controlled diabetes and untreated gum disease all raise the risk of problems. From first appointment to final crown usually takes several months, and an implant needs the same daily cleaning and regular checks as a natural tooth, because the gum and bone around it can become inflamed if plaque is left. Our guide to what implant treatment and recovery feel like walks through the stages, and dental implant costs covers the money in detail. You can also read about the treatment itself on our dental implants page.

A dental bridge. A bridge fills the gap with a false tooth attached to the tooth or teeth beside it. A conventional bridge involves shaping the neighbouring teeth to take crowns. That is a sensible trade if those teeth already have large fillings or crowns, and a harder one to justify if they are healthy and untouched, because the reduction cannot be undone. An adhesive (resin-bonded) bridge is fixed to the back of a neighbouring tooth with little or no drilling, and can suit some gaps, particularly at the front. Either way, a bridge is fixed in place, feels much like natural teeth, and is usually completed in a couple of visits a few weeks apart. Cleaning underneath the false tooth needs a floss threader or a small interdental brush, and because the supporting teeth carry extra load, their health largely decides how long the bridge lasts. Our dental bridge cost guide has more.

A partial denture. A removable plate carries one or more false teeth and clips onto your remaining teeth. Acrylic partials are the more affordable option and are easy to add teeth to if you lose more later. Chrome cobalt partials have a thin metal framework, so they are slimmer and stronger, and they can be designed to rest on the teeth in a way that puts less pressure on the gums. A denture needs no surgery and little or no drilling, and one appliance can replace several gaps around the mouth. The trade-offs are that it comes out for cleaning and usually overnight, it takes a few weeks to get used to eating and speaking with, and it is less stable than a fixed option. Our dentures cost guide goes into the detail.

Side by side

• Effect on other teeth: an implant leaves them alone. A conventional bridge involves shaping the teeth beside the gap. An adhesive bridge and a partial denture involve little or no drilling, though denture clasps rest on the teeth.
• Treatment time: an implant usually takes several months from start to finish. A bridge or a denture usually takes a few weeks.
• Surgery: only an implant needs a surgical procedure, carried out under local anaesthetic.
• Fixed or removable: implants and bridges stay in. A partial denture comes out.
• Lifespan: all three can last many years with good care. Implants often last well beyond a decade, though the crown on top may need replacing at some point. Bridges commonly last ten years or more. Dentures usually need relining or remaking every five to ten years as the gums and bone change shape.
• Upkeep: all three need careful daily cleaning, regular check-ups and hygiene visits. None of them can decay, but the gums and teeth around them can.

What it costs here, and the NHS position

Our published prices are an implant consultation at £180 and a single implant and restoration from £3,000. Bridges are £1,175 for two units (typically one supporting tooth and one false tooth) and £1,850 for three units (typically a false tooth between two supporting teeth), and your dentist will confirm which design and price applies to you. Dentures are from £625 in acrylic and from £1,495 in chrome cobalt. We do not publish a separate price for a partial denture, because the design varies so much with the number and position of the missing teeth, so ask us and we will give you a written quote after your examination. Everything is listed on our fees page, and if you are new to us, the usual starting point for any of these is a new patient examination at £89 including X-rays.

On the NHS in England, bridges and dentures fall under Band 3, currently £332.10, where they are clinically needed, and one charge covers the whole course of treatment however many visits it takes. Implants are not usually available on the NHS, except in specific clinical situations such as after mouth cancer treatment or a serious injury. We are not able to take on new adult NHS patients, so the prices above are our private fees.

If you have just lost a tooth in an accident, that is a different and urgent situation. An adult tooth that has been knocked out can sometimes be put back if it is handled correctly and seen quickly, so follow our knocked-out tooth guide and call us straight away. Out of hours, call NHS 111. Any head injury, heavy bleeding that will not stop, or swelling that affects your breathing, swallowing or eye needs 999 or A&E.

Frequently asked questions

Is an implant better than a bridge?

Neither is better in every case. An implant avoids drilling the neighbouring teeth and helps preserve the bone, but it needs surgery, enough bone and several months. A bridge is quicker and avoids surgery, and is often a sensible choice when the teeth beside the gap already have large fillings or crowns.

Can I wear a partial denture while I wait for an implant?

Often, yes. A simple temporary denture can fill the gap during the months the implant is healing, especially for a front tooth. Your dentist will advise whether one is suitable, because in some cases a denture needs adjusting so it does not press on the healing area.

How soon after an extraction can a tooth be replaced?

It depends on the option. An immediate denture can sometimes be fitted on the day the tooth comes out. A bridge or an implant is usually planned once the gum and bone have healed, often after a few months, although some implants can be placed at the time of extraction in suitable cases.

Do I have to replace a missing back tooth?

Not always. Some people manage well with a gap at the very back, particularly where the opposite tooth is also missing. The main reasons to replace it are to stop teeth drifting or over-erupting, to share out chewing load and to keep future options open. Your dentist can talk through the pros and cons for your mouth.

Weighing up your options?

A consultation is the simplest way to find out which option suits your mouth, what it would involve and exactly what it would cost. Call 01625 574609. New patient examinations are £89 including X-rays and implant consultations are £180, with every price on our fees page.

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