Missing Teeth: Replacement Options
Implants, bridges, or dentures? Every option compared on price, comfort, and how long they actually last.
You're missing one or more teeth and you want to know your options. Implants, bridges, dentures, or something else? Each has different costs, lifespans, and trade-offs. Here's the honest breakdown.
The Options at a Glance
| Option | UK Cost | Lifespan | Comfort (1-10) | Bone Preservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental implant | £2,000-£3,000 | 15-25 years | 9/10 | Yes |
| Fixed bridge | £800-£2,500 | 10-15 years | 7/10 | No |
| Maryland bridge | £500-£1,500 | 5-10 years | 6/10 | No |
| Partial denture (metal) | £400-£1,000 | 5-10 years | 5/10 | No |
| Partial denture (acrylic) | £200-£500 | 3-5 years | 3/10 | No |
| Flexible denture (Valplast) | £400-£800 | 3-5 years | 6/10 | No |
| Do nothing | £0 now | N/A | Declines over time | No — active bone loss |
Dental Implants: The Gold Standard
A titanium post screwed into the jawbone, topped with a ceramic crown. It looks, feels, and functions like a natural tooth. The implant also stimulates the bone, preventing the shrinkage that happens with every other option.
Best for: Anyone with adequate bone density who wants a permanent solution. Crucial for visible front teeth.
The catch: Highest upfront cost. Takes 3-6 months to heal (though immediate-load implants are reducing this). Needs bone grafting if your jaw has already lost density.
Abroad pricing: £600-£900 in Turkey for a single implant with crown, using the same brands (Nobel, Straumann, Osstem) as UK practices.
Fixed Bridge (Traditional)
A false tooth anchored to crowns cemented onto the teeth either side of the gap. The neighbouring teeth get filed down to fit the crowns — which means removing healthy tooth structure forever.
Best for: Gaps where the teeth either side already have large fillings or crowns.
The trade-off: You're damaging two healthy teeth to replace one missing one. If either anchor tooth develops problems, the whole bridge fails. Bone underneath keeps shrinking.
Maryland Bridge (Resin-Bonded)
A gentler bridge option. The false tooth has metal or porcelain wings bonded to the backs of adjacent teeth — no filing down required.
Best for: Front teeth where biting forces are lower. Good temporary solution while saving for an implant.
Reality check: Lower durability than traditional bridges. The bonding can fail, especially on lower teeth where bite forces are higher. Most dentists view this as a medium-term fix.
See How Much You Could Save
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Partial Dentures
Removable replacements for one or more missing teeth. Metal-frame partials clip onto existing teeth. Acrylic partials are cheaper but bulkier. Flexible dentures (Valplast) sit somewhere between — no metal clasps but not as rigid.
Best for: Replacing multiple missing teeth on a tight budget. Also useful as a stopgap while planning implants.
The reality: You take them out to clean and sleep. They can feel bulky and affect speech initially. Don't prevent bone loss. Metal clasps may show when you smile.
What Happens If You Do Nothing
This is always an option, but understand the consequences:
- Bone loss accelerates — the jawbone loses 25% of its width in the first year after tooth loss
- Adjacent teeth drift into the gap, creating bite problems and increasing decay risk
- Opposing tooth (the one above/below the gap) can over-erupt, eventually needing extraction too
- Chewing efficiency drops — each missing molar reduces chewing ability by roughly 10%
- Face changes — multiple missing back teeth cause the lower face to shrink over time
The cost of doing nothing isn't zero. It's the cost of fixing all the secondary problems that develop over 5-10 years.
Making the Decision
Budget under £500: Acrylic partial denture as a temporary measure. Start saving or exploring finance for implants.
Budget £500-£1,500: Maryland bridge for front teeth, metal partial for back teeth.
Budget £2,000+: Single implant in the UK, or multiple implants abroad at the same budget.
Multiple missing teeth on a budget: Dental work abroad. The savings on 3+ implants typically cover flights, hotel, and still leave you thousands ahead of UK pricing.
Don't wait. Every year of delay makes the treatment more complex and expensive.
Find out what you need — our free dental assessment maps your teeth and recommends the right treatment for your situation.
Next Steps
Not sure which option is right for you? The candidacy checker tells you in 60 seconds if you're suitable for implants. The free dental health check maps your teeth and recommends the best replacement option for each one. The savings calculator then shows you what it costs at verified clinics abroad.
Next Steps
The candidacy checker tells you in 60 seconds if you're suitable for implants. The free dental health check maps your teeth and tells you what you actually need. The savings calculator shows verified clinic prices vs home costs.
We've verified every clinic on our platform and removed eight that didn't meet our standards — unlike directories that list anyone who pays. Your dental tourism consultant coordinates everything once you're ready.
Key Takeaway
Before you book anything, get a dental health check. Knowing exactly what treatment you need — and what it should cost — protects you from surprise bills, unnecessary procedures, and clinics that don't match your needs.
Assessment-led dental comparison platform
Getting dental work abroad is a big decision — and doing it without knowing exactly what you need is risky. Clinics can only give you a proper quote once they understand your teeth. That's why we built a free dental health check that takes 2 minutes and gives you a clear picture before you speak to anyone.
People tell us it's surprisingly easy to use. It took us a long time to build, but the result is an interactive assessment that maps your teeth and identifies what you need — no jargon, no pressure.
How it works
Take the dental health check
2 minutes. Interactive dental chart. Tell us what's bothering you and what you'd like to improve.
Get your dental health report
A clear breakdown of what treatment you need, estimated costs, and how much you could save compared to your home country.
Compare 3 treatment plans
We match you to clinics based on your priorities and send your report to 3 clinics. You get 3 clinically reviewed treatment plans to choose from.
Your own dental consultant
Want someone to handle it all? You get a dental consultant assigned to you who plans everything — from your initial assessment to your treatment abroad — ensuring a seamless journey from your home country to the clinic of your choice.
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Think of us like Booking.com for dental tourism — except we assess you first.
Getting dental work abroad means navigating a different healthcare system, a different language, and clinics you've never visited — all while trying to understand what treatment you actually need. Most people do this alone, piecing together information from WhatsApp messages and online reviews.
MyDentalFly organises the entire process. Your dental needs are assessed before you travel, you compare treatment plans from vetted clinics side by side, and everything — from your initial assessment to your aftercare notes — is documented on your patient portal. We're not a clinic and we don't sell treatment. We're the layer between you and the clinic that keeps everything transparent and on track.
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