By Dr Hisham Abdul-Ghaffar, dentist, Clyde Dental Care
If you’ve lost a tooth, or you’re about to, you’ve probably heard of implants, bridges and dentures. Each can work well, and each has its costs, not only in dollars. Here’s how I explain the three to my patients, and how we help you choose.
Why a missing tooth matters
A gap doesn’t always cause trouble straight away, but things can change around it.
- Teeth move. The teeth beside the gap can lean into it, and the tooth opposite can grow down into the space. That can change your bite.
- The bone shrinks. The bone that held the tooth starts to shrink, fastest in the first few months. That matters if you might want an implant later.
- Eating and speaking. These can get harder with several teeth missing, and when many teeth are gone, your face can lose some of its support.
Not every gap has to be filled, though. A missing tooth right at the back sometimes causes little trouble, and leaving it can be a fair choice. If that’s you, we’ll say so.
A dental implant
An implant is a small titanium screw placed in the jawbone, where the tooth’s root used to be. Over about three months the bone grows around it, and then a crown is fixed on top. Implants can also hold a bridge or a denture.
- What it suits. One or more missing teeth, when your gums are healthy and there’s enough bone to hold the implant. The teeth either side are left alone.
- How long it lasts. In studies that followed people for ten years, about 95 in every 100 implants were still in place, and about 9 in 10 of the crowns on them. Smaller problems along the way, like a loose screw or a chipped crown, are common.
- The downsides. It means surgery, then a few months of healing before the final tooth goes on. Too little bone may mean a bone graft first, which adds a procedure and more time. Possible problems include infection, nerve damage, sinus problems and damage to nearby teeth, and now and then an implant doesn’t join to the bone. It isn’t for everyone: smoking raises the risk of failure, and some health conditions and medicines affect whether an implant suits you.
- Cost. An implant usually costs more up front than a denture, and more again if the bone needs building up first.
More on our dental implants page.
A bridge
A bridge is a false tooth joined to crowns on the teeth either side of the gap. It’s fixed in place, and it usually takes two visits.
- What it suits. A gap with strong teeth either side and healthy gums. It’s often a good fit when those teeth already have large fillings or crowns.
- How long it lasts. In studies that followed people for ten years, about 9 in 10 bridges were still in place.
- The downsides. The teeth either side have to be filed down to hold the crowns, even if they’re healthy. Those teeth can still decay, or the cement can fail: the usual reasons a bridge fails. Cleaning under it takes extra care.
- Cost. For one missing tooth, a bridge and an implant can cost about the same at the start, depending on the teeth and the bone.
A denture
A denture is false teeth you can take out. A full denture replaces all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw and rests on your gums. A partial denture replaces some teeth and holds on to your own teeth with small metal clasps. It takes a few visits to make.
- What it suits. Several missing teeth or all of them, or when an implant or a bridge doesn’t suit you. It can be long-term or a stop-gap, and it can sometimes go in straight after a tooth comes out.
- How long it lasts. Your gums and bone keep changing, so in time a denture may need relining or remaking to fit well.
- The downsides. It isn’t fixed, so it can move or feel loose, and sore spots may need adjusting. Most people take a few months to get used to one. You might sound a little different at first, and you may not be able to eat all the same foods as before. A partial denture needs healthy teeth to hold on to.
- Cost. Usually the least expensive of the three.
How we choose with you
There’s no single right answer for everyone, so we start with you: getting to know you, what bothers you about the gap, and what you want out of your teeth. We build the plan around you. Then we look at the teeth either side of the gap and your bite, your gums, the bone (with x-rays), and your health and any medicines.
You get a written plan with the costs before anything is done, and we’ll tell you what’s involved at each step. Extras cover often treats all three as major dental, with longer waiting periods and yearly limits, so check yours before you start.
The first step is an exam:
- Free new patient exam, booked and completed by 31 December 2026. If you’re new to us, your exam is free when your appointment is booked and completed by 31 December 2026. It includes every x-ray, photo and scan you need, however many, with no extra fee, and you don’t need a health fund. A clean is not included: we quote it separately, along with any treatment, before it starts. After 31 December 2026, the new patient exam is at our standard fee of $150. More on our New Patients page.
Looking after whichever you choose
- An implant. Brush twice a day, and clean between it and your other teeth with floss, interdental brushes or a water flosser. Implants can get their own form of gum disease, more likely without good cleaning and regular check-ups.
- A bridge. Clean under the false tooth every day with a floss threader, superfloss or an interdental brush.
- A denture. Take it out to clean it, morning and night, with a soft brush and mild soap and water, not toothpaste or hot water. Leave it out overnight to give your mouth a rest.
Whichever you choose, keep up your check-ups, even if all your teeth have been replaced. More on everyday care on our general dentistry page.
Book an assessment in Clyde North
We’re upstairs on Level 1 of Ramlegh Springs Town Centre, Shop L1-02B, 50 Ramlegh Boulevard, Clyde North. There’s a lift between Cellarbrations and Snap Fitness, and parking is free. We’re open Saturdays, so an appointment doesn’t have to mean time off work. Book online or call (03) 8908 3030.