What Is Best for Missing Teeth?
The best solution depends on how many teeth are missing, your budget, bone health and personal preferences.
Implants: The Gold Standard
Implants (from £2,500) are permanent, preserve jawbone, and have 95%+ success rates at 10 years. Best for long-term health.
Bridges: Fixed and Affordable
Bridges (from £590.75) are fixed in place, require no surgery, last 10-15 years. Require healthy adjacent teeth.
Dentures: Cost-Effective
Dentures (from £486.20) replace multiple teeth affordably. Modern dentures are comfortable. Implant-retained dentures eliminate slipping.
A Note from Dr Sarah Metias, Principal Dentist
When a patient sits down in my chair at Station House to discuss a missing tooth, my first question is about overall health and timeline — because the best option genuinely varies. A patient in their thirties with sufficient bone? I'll usually recommend an implant — it's the only option that preserves bone long-term. A patient with complex medical history or multiple missing teeth? A well-made denture or bridge may serve them better. There's no universal answer, which is exactly why the £40 consultation exists — to give you a written, personalised recommendation you can take away.
Key Statistics
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bone loss in the first year after tooth extraction without replacement | 25% width, 4mm height | established clinical consensus |
| 10-year implant survival rate | 96% | Straumann and ITI data |
| 10-year bridge survival rate | 89% | systematic review data |
| Patients who experience adjacent tooth damage from bridge preparation | 11% | long-term clinical follow-up |
| Quality of life improvement score: implant vs denture (patient self-report) | Implant 4.7/5 vs Denture 3.2/5 | Journal of Oral Rehabilitation |
Clinical Evidence & References
- Pjetursson BE et al. (2012). "A systematic review of the survival and complication rates of implant-supported fixed dental prostheses." Clin Oral Implants Res, 23(6), 163-174.
- NHS UK — Replacing missing teeth (nhs.uk)
- Cochrane Review — Interventions for replacing missing teeth (doi.org/10.1002/14651858)
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Book your £40 Smile Consultation at Station House Dental Care