Implant or bridge?
Dt. Mesut · 25 September 2026
Two ways to replace a single missing tooth, and the questions that decide which suits you.
If you are missing a single tooth, there are two common options: an implant or a bridge. Both can work well; the right choice depends on your mouth.
Bridge
The teeth on either side of the gap are reduced and a three-tooth prosthesis is cemented in one piece. It is done in a few weeks with no surgery, but healthy neighbouring teeth have to be ground down.
Implant
A titanium root is placed in the jawbone where the tooth is missing and a single crown is made on top. The neighbouring teeth are left alone. You wait a few months for the bone to fuse.
Which one?
- If the neighbouring teeth need crowns anyway, a bridge may make sense.
- If they are healthy, an implant protects them.
- If there isn't enough bone, an extra step may be needed before an implant.
At your check-up we look at both options side by side with X-rays and, if needed, 3D imaging.