What Are the Options for Replacing a Missing Tooth?

Losing a tooth happens more often than people think. Decay, gum disease, a sports injury or a cracked root are the usual causes. And the first worry most patients have is how it looks.

The second worry is cost and access. Bridges and dentures are available on the NHS when they’re clinically needed, through an NHS dentist, while implants are usually private.

Patients who want a wider choice of materials or longer appointments often choose a private dentist in Catford for some or all of their treatment. You can mix the two at the same practice.

Below, we compare each option side by side so you can see what fits your mouth, your health and your plans. It’s part of the wider dental care we offer at Hillview Dental Centre, a long-established dental clinic in Catford.

Why should you replace a missing tooth?

A gap might seem harmless if it’s at the back. Over time, though, it changes how your mouth works.

• Neighbouring teeth tip into the gap. This can open spaces where food traps and decay starts.
• The opposite tooth over-erupts. With nothing to bite against, it can drift up or down out of its socket.
• Bone shrinks. The jawbone in the gap slowly resorbs because it’s no longer stimulated by a root.
• Your bite changes. Chewing on one side can strain the jaw joint and other teeth.
• Speech and appearance. Front gaps can affect how you pronounce some sounds and how you feel when you smile.

Not every gap needs filling. A missing back tooth with a stable bite and no drifting may be fine to leave. That’s a decision to make with your dentist after an exam.

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a small titanium or zirconia post placed into the jawbone to act as an artificial root. Once the bone has fused to it, a crown is attached on top.

Pros

• Looks and feels closest to a natural tooth
• Doesn’t involve the neighbouring teeth
• Helps preserve the jawbone
• Can last decades with good care

Cons

• Needs minor surgery and healing time, usually 3 to 6 months
• Requires enough healthy bone, or a bone graft first
• Usually private only
• Smokers and people with uncontrolled diabetes have higher failure rates

What is a dental bridge?

A bridge is a fixed false tooth held in place by the teeth on either side of the gap. It’s cemented in and can’t be removed at home.

Types of bridges

• Conventional bridge: crowns on the teeth either side, holding a false tooth between them.
• Cantilever bridge: supported by a tooth on one side only.
• Resin-bonded (Maryland) bridge: a false tooth with a thin metal or ceramic wing bonded to the back of a neighbouring tooth, with little or no drilling.

Pros and cons

Bridges are fixed and usually done in 2 to 3 visits over a few weeks. Conventional bridges need the neighbouring teeth to be shaped for crowns, which is worth avoiding if those teeth are healthy and unfilled. Resin-bonded bridges are much gentler but suit only certain gaps.

What is a partial denture?

A partial denture is a removable plate carrying one or more false teeth. It clips onto your natural teeth and you take it out to clean it.

• Acrylic partial dentures are lightweight plastic and quick to make. They’re often used as a first or temporary option.
• Cobalt chrome (metal-based) partial dentures are thinner, stronger and usually more comfortable for long-term use.
• Flexible dentures use a nylon-type material with gum-coloured clasps.

Dentures are the least invasive option and easy to add teeth to later. They can feel bulky at first and need careful cleaning to protect the teeth they clip onto.

Implant vs bridge vs denture: which is best?

What if you don’t have enough bone for an implant?

Bone shrinks after a tooth is lost, especially in the first year. If there isn’t enough left to hold an implant securely, a bone graft may be suggested first.

A graft adds bone material (often a processed bone substitute) to the area, which your body slowly replaces with its own bone over a few months. In the upper back jaw, a sinus lift may be needed to make room. Grafting adds time, but it makes implants possible for many patients who were told they weren’t suitable.

Can a front tooth be replaced quickly?

Yes. Nobody wants to walk around with a gap in their smile, and there are fast options for front teeth.

• A temporary acrylic denture (sometimes called a flipper) can often be made within days.
• A resin-bonded bridge can sometimes be fitted within 2 to 3 weeks.
• In selected cases, an implant can be placed at the time of extraction with a temporary crown on top, though this depends on bone and gum conditions.

What about replacing several missing teeth?

When more than one tooth is missing, the choices change a little. A single partial denture can replace teeth in different places at once, which makes it a practical option.

Several implants, or implants supporting a bridge, can replace a row of missing teeth without involving healthy neighbours. Your dentist will plan around where the gaps are and how much bone there is.

How do you choose the right option?

1. Get a full exam and X-rays. Your dentist checks bone levels, gum health and the teeth beside the gap.
2. Talk about your priorities. Fixed or removable, speed, appearance, and whether you’d prefer NHS or private treatment.
3. Review your health. Smoking, diabetes, some medications and gum disease all affect what will last.
4. Look at the neighbouring teeth. If they already have large fillings or crowns, a bridge may make more sense. If they’re untouched, an implant protects them.
5. Agree a plan and timeline. Some patients wear a temporary denture while an implant heals.
6. Plan follow-up care. Every option needs regular check-ups and good cleaning to last.

What happens if you get a tooth replaced on the NHS?

Bridges and dentures fall under NHS Band 3, which also covers your exam and any fillings in the same course of treatment. Your dentist will choose the most suitable clinically necessary option.

Implants are generally not provided on the NHS, except in specific situations such as some cancer treatments, injuries or developmental conditions, usually through a hospital referral.

What are the common myths about replacing missing teeth?

• Myth: the NHS won’t replace missing teeth. Bridges and dentures are available on the NHS when clinically needed.
• Myth: everyone can have implants. You need enough bone and good general health. Heavy smoking and uncontrolled diabetes raise the risk of failure.
• Myth: dentures are only for older people. Partial dentures help adults of any age, including as a temporary option.
• Myth: a gap at the back doesn’t matter. It can still cause drifting teeth and bite problems over time.
• Myth: private replacements are always better quality. Both NHS and private work must meet professional standards. Private care mainly adds choice of materials, options like implants, and appointment flexibility.

How do you look after your replacement tooth?

• Implants: brush and floss around them like natural teeth, and use interdental brushes at the gumline.
• Bridges: use a floss threader or interdental brush to clean under the false tooth every day.
• Dentures: remove and clean them daily, brush your natural teeth and gums, and leave dentures out overnight unless advised otherwise.
• Keep up regular check-ups so your dentist can check the fit and the health of the surrounding gums.

What does the treatment process look like?

Every case is different, but most tooth replacement follows a similar path:

1. Consultation and exam, with X-rays and sometimes a 3D scan for implants
2. Treatment of any decay or gum disease first
3. Impressions or digital scans of your teeth
4. Placement of the implant, preparation for the bridge, or a fit appointment for the denture
5. Healing time where needed, with a temporary tooth if the gap shows
6. Final crown, bridge or denture fitted and your bite checked
7. Review visit, then regular check-ups

Why choose Hillview Dental Centre?

Hillview Dental Centre has served Catford for more than 100 years, since 1915, and is one of the most trusted practices in the area. Patients often call us the best dental clinic in Catford for straight advice on options they understand.

We treat both NHS and private patients. That means you can get an NHS bridge or denture, or choose a private implant, with the same GDC-registered team looking after you from start to finish.

Book a consultation with a dentist in Catford by calling +44 20 3846 6010 or emailing info@hillviewcentre.co.uk. We’re at 299 Brownhill Road, Catford, London SE6, and we’ll explain every option clearly before you decide, whether you see us as an NHS dentist in Catford or a private dentist in Catford.

Frequently asked questions