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FrançaisDental Implant or Bridge for a Missing Tooth?
Medically reviewed by Dt. Şerife Kalken, dentist and founder · October 2026
Short Answer
It Depends Mostly on the Teeth Next to the Gap
Both an implant and a bridge replace a missing tooth with a fixed tooth that you do not take out. The biggest difference is what happens to the teeth on either side.
- If the neighbouring teeth are healthy, an implant is usually the better choice: it replaces the missing tooth on its own and leaves the neighbours untouched.
- If the neighbouring teeth already have large fillings or crowns, a bridge can make sense, because those teeth would benefit from crowns anyway.
- If there is not enough bone, or implant surgery is not advisable for medical reasons, a bridge avoids surgery and grafting.
How They Work
Two Ways to Fill the Same Gap
Implant
A new root in the bone
- What it is
- A titanium implant placed in the jaw, a connector (abutment) and a crown on top.
- Neighbouring teeth
- Not touched.
- Time
- Usually two stages over about 3–5 months while the bone heals onto the implant.
Bridge
Held by the teeth either side
- What it is
- Crowns on the two neighbouring teeth, joined to a false tooth that sits over the gap.
- Neighbouring teeth
- Reduced all round, typically by about 1.5–2 mm, so the crowns fit over them. This is permanent.
- Time
- About 5–7 days, as the bridge is made in a laboratory.
Side by Side
Implant vs Bridge, Point by Point
| Implant | Three-unit bridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Neighbouring teeth | Left as they are | Prepared for crowns |
| Jaw bone under the gap | Kept under load, which helps to preserve it | Slowly shrinks, as after any tooth loss |
| Cleaning | Like a natural tooth, with floss or interdental brushes | Floss threaded under the false tooth, or a water flosser |
| Surgery | Yes, under local anaesthesia | No |
| Time to finish | About 3–5 months, usually two trips | About 5–7 days, one trip |
| Survival at 10 years (studies) | About 93–96% of implants | About 89% of conventional bridges |
| Price from (our list) | £375: implant from £200 plus zirconia crown on implant from £175 | £450: three zirconia units from £150 each; metal-ceramic from £330 |
Survival figures come from systematic reviews (Howe 2019 for implants; Tan 2004 for conventional bridges) and describe groups of patients, not a promise for one mouth. Prices are starting prices from our price list; the exact plan and cost are confirmed after examination.
Which Suits You
When Each Option Makes Sense
An implant is usually better when…
The neighbouring teeth are healthy or only lightly filled, there is enough bone (or you are happy to have a graft), and you want the solution that protects the other teeth over the long term.
A bridge is usually better when…
The neighbours already need crowns, bone is very limited and you would rather avoid grafting, implant surgery is not advisable for medical reasons, or you need the tooth finished in a single trip.
Other options worth asking about
A resin-bonded bridge glued to the back of a neighbouring front tooth with little or no drilling, or a removable partial denture as a simpler, cheaper option.
Whichever you choose, the gap is worth filling. Over time, neighbouring teeth can tip into an empty space and the opposing tooth can drift out of its socket, which complicates treatment later.
Our Approach
How We Help You Decide
The decision is made on an X-ray and, for implants, a 3D scan, not on price alone. We show you the condition of the neighbouring teeth and the bone, explain both options with their timelines, and give you the plan in writing. If the neighbouring teeth are healthy, we will tell you plainly that preparing them for a bridge removes tooth structure that cannot be replaced; our shark teeth guide explains why that matters.
- Howe MS, Keys W, Richards D. Long-term (10-year) dental implant survival: a systematic review and sensitivity meta-analysis. J Dent. 2019;84:9–21.
- Tan K, Pjetursson BE, Lang NP, Chan ES. A systematic review of the survival and complication rates of fixed partial dentures (FPDs) after an observation period of at least 5 years. III. Conventional FPDs. Clin Oral Implants Res. 2004;15(6):654–666.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is an implant better than a bridge?
When the neighbouring teeth are healthy, an implant is usually the better long-term choice because it does not require those teeth to be cut down for crowns. When the neighbours already need crowns, or implant surgery is not suitable, a bridge is a sound option.
- Which lasts longer, an implant or a bridge?
In systematic reviews, about 93–96% of implants survive ten years, compared with about 89% of conventional bridges. Both depend heavily on cleaning, check-ups and the health of the rest of the mouth.
- How much does an implant cost compared with a bridge in Antalya?
A single implant with a zirconia crown starts from £375 (implant from £200, crown on implant from £175). A three-unit zirconia bridge starts from £450, or from £330 in metal-ceramic. The exact price follows an examination.
- Can I get a bridge in one trip?
Usually, yes. A bridge takes about 5–7 days because it is made in a laboratory. An implant normally needs two trips about 3–5 months apart.
- Does a bridge damage the neighbouring teeth?
The neighbouring teeth have to be reduced all round, typically by about 1.5–2 mm, to take the crowns. That is permanent, which is why a bridge makes most sense when those teeth already need crowns.
Send us your X-ray and we will tell you where you stand
A dentist reviews it and you get a written plan. No charge, no deposit, and no obligation to travel.
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