South Kensington
- 20 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3DL
- Open seven days a week
- 020 7183 2362
Treatment comparison · Wimpole Street, Marylebone
Implant or bridge: replacing a missing tooth on its own or with help from its neighbours
When a single tooth is lost, the two established ways of filling the space are an implant and a bridge. An implant is a titanium post placed in the jaw that carries its own crown, independent of everything around it. A bridge borrows support from the teeth either side: they are crowned, and a false tooth is suspended between them. Each has been used for decades, and each has situations where it is clearly the better answer.
Decision guide
Which is right for you?
Choose Dental implants if…
- The teeth either side of the gap are healthy and you would rather not have them cut down.
- A scan shows enough bone to hold an implant, or you are willing to have a graft.
- You want the solution most likely to last for decades.
- You are content to wait several months for healing before the final tooth.
Choose Dental bridges if…
- The adjacent teeth already have large fillings or crowns and would benefit from new ones.
- You would prefer to avoid surgery, or a medical condition makes implants unwise.
- You want the gap filled within two to three weeks.
- Bone loss in the area is significant and you would rather not undergo grafting.
At a glance
Side by side
| Feature | Dental implants | Dental bridges |
|---|---|---|
| How it is supported | A titanium post fused to the jawbone | Crowns cemented onto the teeth on either side |
| Effect on neighbouring teeth | None; they are left as they are | Both are reshaped to carry the bridge |
| Strength | Very high; functions like a natural root | High, but limited by the strength of the anchor teeth |
| Expected lifespan | Often 25 years or more; frequently a lifetime for the fixture | Typically 10 to 15 years or longer |
| Bone preservation | Stimulates the bone and helps maintain its volume | Bone beneath the false tooth gradually shrinks |
| Timeline | Around 3 to 6 months including healing | Around 2 to 3 weeks over two visits |
| Surgery | Yes, a minor procedure under local anaesthetic | None |
| Fee at Wimpole Street | From £2,950 including the crown | From £995 per unit; a three-unit bridge from £2,985 |
| Cleaning | Brushed and flossed like a natural tooth | Needs floss threaders or interdental brushes beneath the false tooth |
| Best suited to | Patients with adequate bone wanting a stand-alone, lasting replacement | Patients who want speed, wish to avoid surgery or whose neighbouring teeth need crowns anyway |
In the chair
What the treatment involves
Dental implants
A 3D scan confirms bone volume and maps the nerves and sinuses. Under local anaesthetic the implant is placed into the jaw through a small opening in the gum, a procedure that usually takes under an hour. Over the next three to six months the bone grows onto the titanium surface. If bone is lacking, a graft can be placed at the same time or beforehand, extending the wait. Once integration is confirmed, a connector is fitted and a crown made to match the neighbouring teeth is attached. A temporary tooth can usually be worn during healing.
Dental bridges
At the first visit the teeth either side of the gap are numbed and reduced so that crowns can fit over them, and an impression or scan is taken. A temporary bridge protects the prepared teeth while the laboratory makes the permanent one, usually in porcelain fused to a strong core or in zirconia. One to two weeks later the bridge is tried in, checked for fit and bite, and cemented. Where only one neighbouring tooth is used, a cantilever design is possible; a resin-bonded Maryland bridge uses wings glued to the back of the adjacent teeth with little or no drilling.
Fees
Cost and longevity at Wimpole Street
A single implant with its crown at Wimpole Street will start from £2,950. Bridges are priced per unit from £995, so a conventional three-unit bridge (two supporting crowns and one false tooth) starts from £2,985. A two-unit cantilever bridge starts from £1,990, and a Maryland (resin-bonded) bridge from £1,030.
The headline figures are similar for a single tooth, but the timelines diverge. An implant fixture frequently lasts 25 years or more, whereas a bridge is generally replaced after 10 to 15 years and each replacement may involve further work on the anchor teeth. Over a lifetime the implant is often the more economical option despite the surgical stage.
All prices are indicative and are confirmed in a written treatment plan at your consultation. Fees are the same at every Medical & Dental clinic.
Weighing it up
Strengths and trade-offs
Dental implants
Strengths
- Neighbouring teeth are untouched
- Longest lifespan of any tooth replacement
- Helps preserve jawbone in the gap
- Cleaned exactly like a natural tooth
- Looks and feels like your own tooth
Trade-offs
- Requires a surgical procedure and healing time
- Several months before the final crown
- Not suitable for everyone, for example uncontrolled diabetes or heavy smoking
- Grafting may be needed, adding time and cost
Dental bridges
Strengths
- Completed within a few weeks
- No surgery involved
- Sensible when the adjacent teeth already need crowns
- Well proven with predictable results
- Lower initial cost for some designs
Trade-offs
- Healthy neighbouring teeth must be permanently reshaped
- Bone under the false tooth slowly recedes
- Shorter lifespan, so it may need replacing once or twice
- Harder to clean underneath, raising the risk of decay in the anchors
FAQ
Common questions
Implant placement is done under local anaesthetic and most patients report less discomfort than they expected, comparable to an extraction. A bridge involves no surgery, but the preparation of two teeth can leave them sensitive for a while. Both are well tolerated.
Bone is maintained by the forces passing through tooth roots. Where a root is missing and nothing replaces it, the bone slowly resorbs. An implant transmits chewing forces into the bone; a bridge does not, so the ridge beneath it gradually flattens.
Often yes, with a bone graft or sinus lift beforehand. This adds several months to the process. Where grafting is not wanted or possible, a bridge or a short implant may be the alternative.
Ten to fifteen years is typical, and some last much longer with careful cleaning. Failure usually comes from decay or fracture of the supporting teeth rather than the bridge itself.
For a single missing front tooth with light bite forces it can be, as it needs almost no drilling. It is less suitable for back teeth or heavy bites, where the wings tend to debond.
Yes. Implant assessments, including 3D scans, are available now at South Kensington and St Paul’s. Treatment begun there can continue at Wimpole Street after 1 October 2026 if that is more convenient.
Marylebone, W1
Wimpole Street opens 1 October 2026
Register your interest and we will contact you when the Marylebone diary opens. If you would rather not wait, the same clinicians can see you at South Kensington or St Paul's now.
Related treatments at Wimpole Street
Opening 1 October 2026
Wimpole Street is not yet seeing patients. Until then, please book or call our South Kensington clinic on 020 7183 2362 or our St Paul's clinic on 020 7183 3709. Questions about the new clinic: wimpolestreet@md.co.uk.
Until we open
Need an appointment before 1 October 2026?
The same clinical team already works from two other Medical & Dental clinics. Book at either one now and, if you prefer, move your ongoing care to Wimpole Street once the doors open.
St Paul's, City of London
- 5 Ave Maria Lane, London EC4M 7AQ
- Open Monday to Friday
- 020 7183 3709
