Implants
Treatment plan menu
Section 1 - Replacement of one missing tooth
Possible solutions are:
- Fixed bridge
- Resin bonded bridge
- Implant supported crown
- Partial acrylic denture
Fixed bridge
Description
A bridge is a false tooth, natural in appearance that replaces one or more missing teeth thus 'bridging' the space between the two teeth. Fixed bridges are usually fused between two porcelain crowns to fill in the area left by a missing tooth and cannot be taken out of your mouth, unlike dentures.
Advantages
- Predictable and very stable results
- Bridge is fixed so worn continuously
- Long lasting with minimal repair and maintenance required
- Good tolerance and no effect on taste
- No surgery required
Disadvantages
- Higher cost than resin-bonded bridge
- Limited cosmetic effect with some loss of tissue
- Irreversible procedure as supporting teeth damaged
- Bone loss continues to variable extent
- Root canal treatment a potential problem
- Loss of supporting tooth can result in failure
Less visible parts of the mouth.
Costs from £1,410
Resin-bonded Bridge
Description
With a resin-bonded bridge, the bridge is bonded to the backs of the adjacent teeth instead of fitting a crown over the entire tooth.
Advantages
- Lower cost than fixed bridge
- Minimal tooth preparation
- Worn continuously
- Short treatment time
- Good tolerance and no effect on taste
- Reversible procedure
- No surgery required
Disadvantages
- Less stable than a fixed bridge
- Maintenance costs can be high
- Bone loss continues to variable extent
Recommended for:
Less visible parts of the mouth.
Costs from £470
Implant
Description
Implants are a realistic, strong and permanent way of replacing missing teeth. They are small devices made of titanium, which are placed gently into the jawbone. Once they have bonded with the bone, they create a permanent support for replacement teeth.
Advantages
- Excellent match to adjacent teeth
- Predictable and long-lasting results
- Bone around implant stabilised
- Adjacent teeth unaffected
- Minimal repair and maintenance required
- Reversible, as implant can be removed
Disadvantages
- Greater cost
- Surgery required
Recommended for:
All areas of the mouth, particularly the more visible parts.
Costs from £2,385
Partial Acrylic Denture
Description
A traditional acrylic denture, which fills in the spaces left by lost or missing teeth.
Advantages
- Low cost
- Additions to denture easy
- No tooth preparation
- Acrylic flange easily used to improve contours
- Short treatment time
- Conservative treatment with no surgery
- Minimal repair and maintenance required
Disadvantages
- Should not be worn continuously at night
- Increased risk of decay and gum disease
- Bulky with limited tolerance
- Opposing or adjacent teeth could move into space
- Bone loss continues to variable extent
- Function can be a compromise
- Significantly reduced taste
Costs from £245
