Replacing Missing Teeth
Restoring a missing tooth is always highly recommended, not just for the appearance of your smile, but to protect the health and alignment of your remaining teeth. We offer three solutions to close the gap: dental bridges, customised dentures, or dental implants. During your clinical assessment, we will thoroughly evaluate your mouth and discuss which of these three options best suits your health, lifestyle and goals.
A bridge, a denture or an implant. A bridge is fixed and from £1,200 a unit. A denture is removable and from £1,050 an arch. An implant is closest to a natural tooth and is arranged by referral.
- Examination from £85
- All options costed
- Every option explained
Why a gap is worth replacing
Every gap has an effect, wherever it sits.
What happens to the teeth around it
Teeth either side tilt into the space over years and the tooth opposite over-erupts into it. Your bite changes as that happens, and cleaning the tilted teeth becomes harder, which brings decay and gum problems with it.
Even a back tooth at the end of the row
It is the gap people are most tempted to leave, and it still changes the bite as the tooth above it drifts down into the space. Replacing it keeps the bite where it is rather than letting it settle somewhere else.
The three options, compared
| A bridge | A denture | An implant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In a sentence | Fixed in, nothing to take out | Removable, acrylic or slim chrome | The closest thing to a natural tooth |
| Best when | The neighbouring teeth are sound and the gap is one or two teeth | Several teeth are missing, or cost is the deciding factor | You would rather not involve the neighbouring teeth at all |
| The catch | With a conventional bridge those teeth are permanently altered | It comes out, and rests on the gum rather than being anchored | Most expensive, slowest, needs enough bone and surgery. We refer. |
| Time | Two appointments over two to three weeks | Four to six weeks, several appointments | Three to six months |
| Cost | From £1,200 per unit | From £2,500 full, from £1,750 partial per arch | From around £3,500, quoted by the clinician we refer to |
What it costs
New patient examination
If you have not been seen here before.
From £150
Examination
If you are already registered with us.
From £85
Bridge, per unit
Individual treatment costs are on the treatment pages and on our fees page.
From £1,200
Every option costed before you decide
And no decision is needed on the day.
Book an assessment
We will set out each option that applies to you, with what it costs and what it involves.
Questions we are often asked
If you have any questions about cost, please ask. We would far rather answer a question about price on the phone than have you wondering about it.
What is the best way to replace a missing tooth?
It depends on the gap, the teeth around it and your gums. An implant leaves the neighbouring teeth alone, a bridge is quicker and usually costs less, and a denture is the least expensive. We set out the options that genuinely apply, with costs and timescales.
How much does it cost to replace one tooth?
A bridge is from £1,200 per unit, a full denture is from £2,500, and implants start from around £3,500 and are quoted by the clinician we refer you to. The examination here is from £150 as a new patient, or from £85 if you are registered.
Can I just leave the gap?
Often yes, particularly a single back tooth at the very end of the row. Every gap has some effect over time, though, because the tooth opposite can over-erupt and the bite slowly changes, so we will keep an eye on it either way.
Do you place implants?
We do not place implants here at the practice. We carry out your initial assessment and take a precise 3D digital scan of your mouth, then refer you to a trusted specialist clinician who performs implant surgery every week. Once your implant is placed, we remain your dental practice, looking after you and your smile for all of your routine care.
How long can I wait before deciding?
No decision is needed on the day, and you are welcome to take the treatment plan away and think about it. The teeth around a gap do move over time, though, so it is better not to leave it indefinitely.
Will it look natural?
That is what the planning stage and the try-in are for. You see the shape and the shade before anything is finalised, and we change it if it is not right.
Can I change my mind later?
Yes. Nothing is decided on the day you first ask, and in most cases you can change course between stages. We will tell you at the time if a step commits you to anything.