Missing Teeth Options: Implant, Bridge, Denture or Gap?
This page is general information and does not replace an examination.
A missing tooth can be replaced with a dental implant, a fixed bridge or a removable denture, and leaving a gap at the back of the mouth is sometimes reasonable[5][6]. Pooled studies report about 89% survival after 10 years for both conventional bridges and crowns on single implants, and 82.9% for resin-bonded bridges[1][2][3]. The right option depends on the neighbouring teeth, the bone, your gums, how many teeth are missing and your budget. At Ulubey Dental Clinic an examination with a panoramic X-ray comes before any recommendation.
- 1. What happens when a tooth is missing
- 2. Missing teeth options at a glance
- 3. Dental implant
- 4. Dental bridge
- 5. Removable denture
- 6. Leaving the gap
- 7. When many or all teeth are missing
- 8. How to choose: five questions
- 9. Treatment options and starting prices
- 10. How we plan tooth replacement
- 11. Frequently asked questions
- 12. Sources
What happens when a tooth is missing
Missing teeth can make eating or speaking more difficult, and many people feel self-conscious about a gap even when it causes no other problem[6]. When many or all teeth are lost, chewing becomes difficult, which can affect your diet, and the facial muscles may sag[7].
The jawbone also changes after an extraction. A systematic review of human studies found that, within 6 months of an extraction, the bone ridge lost 29–63% of its width and 11–22% of its height; most of the loss happened in the first 3–6 months and continued slowly afterwards[4]. This is one reason why the timing of a replacement, and whether bone is preserved when a tooth is taken out, are discussed before an extraction rather than after it. Bone grafting is explained in our dental bone graft guide.
Missing teeth options at a glance
This overview links to our detailed guides, which compare the options side by side. It is a starting point for the conversation with your dentist, not a choice you can make from a table.
| Option | What it is | Usually suits | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental implant with a crown | A titanium or ceramic post in the jawbone that carries a crown | One or more gaps with enough bone and healthy neighbouring teeth | Surgery and about 3 months of healing before the final crown |
| Conventional bridge | A false tooth fixed to crowns on the teeth either side of the gap[7] | Gaps where the neighbouring teeth already need crowns | The neighbouring teeth are prepared for crowns |
| Resin-bonded (Maryland) bridge | A false tooth bonded with small wings to the back of the neighbouring teeth[3] | Selected front-tooth gaps | Can come unstuck; de-bonding is the most common problem[3] |
| Partial denture | A removable plate with false teeth that clips onto your remaining teeth[6] | Several gaps, or when surgery is not wanted or advisable | Removable; takes a few weeks to get used to[6] |
| Complete denture | A removable plate that replaces all the teeth in one jaw[6] | No teeth left in one jaw | Removable; comes out at night |
| Implant-supported full arch | A fixed bridge or a denture held by implants | No teeth, or no teeth that can be kept, in one jaw | Larger surgery and two trips |
| Leaving the gap | No replacement; mainly for back teeth[5] | Missing back teeth when chewing and comfort are fine | Needs an examination to rule out problems |
General information; the right option for you depends on an examination and X-rays.
Dental implant
An implant replaces the root of the tooth and carries a crown, so the teeth next to the gap are not prepared. In a systematic review of 46 studies, 95.2% of single implants and 89.4% of the crowns on them were still in place after 10 years[2]. The implant normally heals for about 3 months before the final crown, or about 6 months on average with bone grafting or an open sinus lift, planned individually. Whether implants suit you is covered in who can get dental implants, and how long they last in how long dental implants last. Our main guide is dental implants in Antalya.
Dental bridge
A conventional bridge is cemented onto crowns on the teeth either side of the gap. Pooled data estimate that 93.8% of conventional bridges survive 5 years and 89.2% survive 10 years[1]. Resin-bonded (Maryland) bridges need little or no preparation of the neighbouring teeth; their estimated survival was 91.4% at 5 years and 82.9% at 10 years[3]. We make a Maryland bridge only when it is really necessary, and because it can come unstuck, it suits patients who live near the clinic. Types, materials and costs are explained in dental bridges, and the direct comparison with an implant in implant vs bridge.
Removable denture
A partial denture replaces one or more missing teeth and clips onto the teeth you still have; a complete denture replaces all the teeth in the upper or lower jaw[6]. Dentures usually take a few weeks to make, and it can take a few weeks to get used to wearing them; they should come out every night unless your dentist recommends otherwise[6]. Types, care and costs are covered in dentures in Antalya, and the comparison with implants in dental implants vs dentures.
Leaving the gap
Not every missing tooth has to be replaced. Studies of the “shortened dental arch”, in which the front teeth and premolars remain but some molars are missing, found in general no clinically significant differences from complete dental arches in chewing ability, jaw-joint symptoms, movement of the remaining teeth, gum support or oral comfort[5]. The review’s authors concluded that the concept deserves consideration when planning treatment, while noting that patients’ needs vary and must be assessed individually[5]. A missing front tooth or premolar is a different situation, because it affects appearance and the bite. An examination shows whether leaving a back-tooth gap is reasonable for you.
When many or all teeth are missing
When several neighbouring teeth are missing, implants can carry a bridge rather than one crown each. When all the teeth in a jaw are missing or cannot be kept, the options are a complete denture, a denture held in place by implants, or a fixed full-arch bridge on 4 or 6 implants. Full-arch treatment normally takes two trips: about 4 nights for the surgery and a fixed temporary bridge, then 5–6 nights for the permanent bridge. These options are compared in All-on-4 vs All-on-6 and explained in full mouth dental implants.
How to choose: five questions
- Do the teeth next to the gap need crowns anyway? If they do, a bridge uses that work; if they are healthy, an implant leaves them untouched.
- Is there enough bone? A panoramic X-ray, and a 3D (CBCT) scan when a case needs one, shows this; little bone may mean grafting and a longer healing time.
- Are your gums healthy, and are there health factors? Gum disease is treated first. Smoking and uncontrolled diabetes affect how implants heal; see who can get dental implants.
- How many trips can you make? A single implant usually needs two visits: 4–5 days, and 3–5 days for the crown about 3 months later. Crowns and bridges are usually finished in one stay of 5–7 days.
- What is your budget, now and over the years? Compare the written quotes, what each includes, and how each option is maintained.
A photo can show where a tooth is missing, but not the bone, the roots of the neighbouring teeth or the gums. An option that looks cheaper can be the wrong one if a neighbouring tooth is weak. The examination and X-rays come first; your written quote follows.
Treatment options and starting prices
| Option | Price | What the price covers |
|---|---|---|
| Single implant with a zirconia crown | from €485 | Nucleoss implant with standard abutment (€300) + Amann Girrbach zirconia crown (€185) |
| 3-unit zirconia bridge | €555 | 3 units × €185; each bridge unit costs the same as a crown |
| Partial denture | €550 acrylic · €700 metal framework | Per denture |
| Complete denture | €600 acrylic · €700 metal-reinforced | Per arch |
| All-on-4, finished | from about €4,120 per arch | Surgery stage with fixed temporary + permanent 12-unit zirconia bridge |
| All-on-6, finished | from about €4,820 per arch | As above, on 6 implants |
Implant prices range from €300 to €1,000 by implant system. Bone graft is €150 per cc when needed. The consultation and panoramic X-ray have no separate fee. Prices are indicative; your final written quote follows the examination and X-rays and is valid for 30 days. Unless the treatment plan changes, the written price does not change.
Every item is listed on our dental treatment prices page, and the single implant cost calculator gives an estimate for one tooth.
How we plan tooth replacement
Dr. Ali Cem Ulubey and Dr. Surur Ulubey examine every patient themselves; there are no rotating dentists. Every patient has a panoramic X-ray, and when a case needs a 3D cone-beam (CBCT) scan, Dr. Ali Cem Ulubey reviews it himself. He places the implants, using 8 implant systems; every implant patient receives the manufacturer’s implant passport in English with the label of each implant. When a tooth has to come out, we discuss before the extraction whether to preserve the socket with a bone graft, priced by graft volume.
Guarantees: manufacturer lifetime guarantee on the implant fixture · 10-year fracture guarantee on Amann Girrbach zirconia crowns/bridges made at our AG partner lab (AG-backed) · 5-year clinic guarantee on crowns/bridges in other materials · crown and bridge guarantees exclude fracture due to bruxism (teeth grinding), and patients who grind their teeth must wear the night guard we provide · all conditional on attending recommended check-ups · covers the prosthesis, not the root canal/filling beneath. Results depend on biology: smoking, uncontrolled diabetes and gum health matter, and a fixture guarantee does not mean every implant integrates. The full terms are in our written dental guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to replace a missing tooth?
A removable partial denture usually costs least at the start: at our clinic €550 in acrylic or €700 with a metal framework. A 3-unit zirconia bridge is €555 and a single implant with a zirconia crown starts from €485. A lower starting price does not always mean lower cost over the years, so compare how long each option lasts and what it needs over the years.
Is it OK to leave a missing tooth?
Sometimes. Studies of the shortened dental arch found that people missing some back molars generally chewed and felt as well as people with all their teeth. A missing front tooth or premolar is different, because it affects appearance and the bite. Bone also shrinks after an extraction, so ask for an examination before deciding to leave a gap.
Does an implant last longer than a bridge?
Pooled studies give similar 10-year figures: about 89% for conventional bridges and 89.4% for crowns on single implants, with 95.2% of the implants themselves still in place. The bigger difference is the neighbouring teeth: a bridge needs crowns on them, an implant does not. Gum health, grinding and check-ups affect both.
How soon after an extraction can I get an implant?
It depends on the site, the bone and any infection. Sometimes the implant is placed at the extraction; otherwise the socket heals first, and a bone graft may be placed to preserve the ridge. The implant itself then heals for about 3 months before the final crown, or about 6 months on average with bone grafting.
Can I get a temporary tooth while I wait?
Often, but not always. A same-day temporary on an implant is possible only when the site is suitable for loading and the implant is firm enough when placed, so it can never be promised in advance. For a single back tooth after a closed sinus lift there is no same-day temporary. Your dentist explains the temporary options for your gap at the examination.
Can I fly home after a dental implant?
After a single implant you can usually fly after 24 to 48 hours. After a closed sinus lift the usual wait is 3 to 5 days, and after an open sinus lift 5 to 7 days. Your dentist confirms your flight day based on what was done.
Sources
- Pjetursson BE, Brägger U, Lang NP, Zwahlen M. Comparison of survival and complication rates of tooth-supported fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) and implant-supported FDPs and single crowns (SCs). Clin Oral Implants Res. 2007;18 Suppl 3:97-113. PMID 17594374. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17594374
- Jung RE, Zembic A, Pjetursson BE, Zwahlen M, Thoma DS. Systematic review of the survival rate and the incidence of biological, technical, and aesthetic complications of single crowns on implants reported in longitudinal studies with a mean follow-up of 5 years. Clin Oral Implants Res. 2012;23 Suppl 6:2-21. PMID 23062124. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23062124
- Thoma DS, Sailer I, Ioannidis A, et al. A systematic review of the survival and complication rates of resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses after a mean observation period of at least 5 years. Clin Oral Implants Res. 2017;28(11):1421-1432. PMID 28191679. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28191679
- Tan WL, Wong TL, Wong MC, Lang NP. A systematic review of post-extractional alveolar hard and soft tissue dimensional changes in humans. Clin Oral Implants Res. 2012;23 Suppl 5:1-21. PMID 22211303. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22211303
- Kanno T, Carlsson GE. A review of the shortened dental arch concept focusing on the work by the Käyser/Nijmegen group. J Oral Rehabil. 2006;33(11):850-862. PMID 17002745. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17002745
- NHS. Dentures (false teeth) (page last reviewed 19 March 2025; accessed 26 October 2026). www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/dentures
- NHS. Dental treatments (page last reviewed 8 July 2026; accessed 26 October 2026). www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-teeth-and-gums/dental-treatments
This article is general patient information and does not replace a clinical examination or X-rays.
Editor contact: [email protected] · ulubeydental.com/contact-us
