Missing Teeth: Replacement Options
Medically reviewed by MyDentalFly Clinical Team
Updated 11 February 2026 · Fact-checked for accuracy
Implants, bridges, or dentures? Every option compared on price, comfort, and how long they actually last.
Researching dental treatment abroad?
How to get the most from MyDentalFly
Read this article
You're already doing the right thing — research first, decide later.
Take the 2-minute dental health check
Get a free Dental Health Report — what treatments you may need, likely costs, and savings vs your home country.
Compare clinics or talk to us
Match with vetted clinics across Turkey, Hungary, and Poland — or book a free no-pressure consultation.
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
Select your treatments below — takes 30 seconds
Implants
Cosmetic
General
Prices based on verified averages from our partner clinics. Your exact quote may vary based on your specific clinical needs. The assessment takes 2 minutes and gives you personalised pricing.
Still researching? Good — that's exactly what you should be doing.
The most common things we hear from patients: price changes on arrival, unexpected extra treatments, and not knowing whether the clinic is right for their case. Our dental health check helps you understand what you may need before any clinic gets involved — so you arrive informed, not hopeful.
Not ready for that? Talk to Adam.
No sales pitch — he'll answer your questions, explain what to expect, and help you figure out next steps. That's it.
Just browsing? That's fine too — we have 150+ articles and free tools to help your research.
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.
How much could you save on dental implant?
London
£2,500
Istanbul
£405
Save 84%
Per dental implant · 4 hours flight from London
Free · 2 minutes · No signup needed
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.
Know what you may need before you fly
The most common concerns we hear from patients:
- •“The price changed when I arrived — they said I needed extra work”
- •“I didn't know which clinic was right for my situation”
- •“I had no way to compare — every clinic quoted different things”
We built MyDentalFly to solve these problems. Not by replacing clinics, but by making sure you understand what you may need before any clinic gets involved.
Our interactive dental health check lets you map your teeth, answer a few health questions, and get a free report showing what treatment you may need and what it could cost. It's interactive, easy to understand, and designed for people without a dental background.
From there, we match you with clinics based on your actual dental situation — not every clinic suits every case. Some cases need experienced surgeons, some need specific equipment. You compare real treatment plans side by side and decide when you're ready.
Personalised treatment plan · clinic match · cost comparison · hotel & flight estimate
Talk to Adam instead
Patient Coordinator
Not ready for the health check? That's fine. Adam can answer your questions, explain what to expect, and help you figure out next steps. No pressure.
MyDentalFly is an independent comparison platform — not a clinic. We don't provide medical advice. The dental health check is informational only.
Pearl AI
Ask me anything about this article or dental treatment abroad
What are you researching today — are you thinking about getting this treatment abroad, or still in the early stages?
Why use a platform for dental treatment abroad?
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.
Assessed before you fly
Know exactly what you need before any clinic touches you
Vetted clinics only
We monitor standards and remove clinics that fall short
Everything documented
Treatment plans, clinical notes, and aftercare — all on your portal
Someone in your corner
We speak to the clinic directly if anything needs clarifying
