Missing Tooth Replacement Options & Cost UK 2026
Missing Tooth Replacement Options & Cost UK 2026
Quick answer
The three main ways to replace a missing tooth in the UK are: a dental implant (£1,800–£3,500 all-in, the most expensive but the gold standard), a dental bridge (£800–£2,000 on three units; available on NHS under Band 3 at £332.10), or a partial denture (£400–£1,200 private; NHS Band 3 at £332.10). Implants last 25+ years with good care; bridges last 10–15 years; dentures need replacing every 5–10 years.
Key takeaways
- Dental implant: £1,800–£3,500 all-in — the most expensive but most durable option (25+ years).
- Dental bridge: £800–£2,000 private; available on NHS at Band 3 (£332.10).
- Partial denture: £400–£1,200 private; NHS Band 3 (£332.10).
- Implants do not require grinding down adjacent healthy teeth; bridges do.
- The cheapest option today is not always the cheapest over 20 years — consider lifetime cost.
A missing tooth is not just an aesthetic problem — it allows adjacent teeth to drift, affects your bite, and causes the underlying jawbone to gradually shrink without stimulation from a tooth root. How quickly you should replace it and which option you choose has a major impact on cost, convenience and long-term oral health.
Comparison: implant vs bridge vs denture
| Factor | Dental implant | Dental bridge | Partial denture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private cost | £1,800–£3,500 | £800–£2,000 | £400–£1,200 |
| NHS cost | Not usually available | £332.10 (Band 3) | £332.10 (Band 3) |
| Lifespan | 25+ years | 10–15 years | 5–10 years |
| Surgery required? | Yes | No | No |
| Adjacent teeth affected? | No | Yes — must be crowned | No |
| Bone preservation? | Yes | No | No |
| Removable? | No (fixed) | No (fixed) | Yes |
| Feels natural? | Closest to a natural tooth | Very natural | Can move when eating |
Dental implant — the gold standard
A titanium screw is placed in the jawbone and a porcelain crown attached on top after 3–6 months of healing. Implants look and feel like natural teeth, preserve bone and last 25+ years with proper care.
Full cost (single tooth, all-in): £1,800–£3,500 UK average; £2,500–£4,500+ central London.
Additional costs to budget for: bone graft (£250–£1,500 if needed), CBCT scan (£150–£350), and IV sedation if preferred (£200–£600).
Dental bridge — the middle option
A bridge uses the teeth either side of the gap as anchors ('abutments') — these are permanently crowned — and a false tooth in the middle. No surgery required. It is fixed, stable and looks natural, but the adjacent teeth must have healthy enamel removed to receive the crowns.
Private cost (3-unit bridge): £800–£2,000. NHS: £332.10 (Band 3).
Resin-bonded (Maryland) bridges are a more conservative option where the false tooth is held by wings bonded to the backs of adjacent teeth — no crowning required. Cost: £600–£1,200 private.
Partial denture — the most affordable option
A removable acrylic or metal-framed partial denture replaces one or more missing teeth. The most affordable option upfront, but requires removal for cleaning, may move during eating, and does not preserve jaw bone.
Private cost: Acrylic partial: £400–£800. Chrome-cobalt (metal framework): £700–£1,200. NHS: £332.10 (Band 3).
What if I can't afford an implant right now?
Consider a temporary removable flipper (acrylic temporary partial denture, £200–£400) while you save for an implant. Act within 12 months of the extraction if possible — the longer you wait, the more bone shrinks, and the more likely you are to need a bone graft (adding £250–£1,500 to the implant cost).
See our detailed guides to dental implant costs, dental bridge costs and denture costs for full pricing breakdowns.
The four options, priced side by side
Replacing a missing tooth comes down to four routes with very different price tags and very different consequences for the teeth either side. This is what each costs before any clinical discussion.
| Option | NHS (England) | Private range | Typical lifespan | The trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single implant | Not funded | £250–£4,500 | 15–25 years | Leaves neighbouring teeth untouched; preserves bone. |
| Bridge | £332.10 | £500–£6,000 | 10–15 years | Requires cutting down the teeth either side. |
| Partial denture | £332.10 | £400–£9,000 | 5–8 years | Removable; the bone underneath keeps resorbing. |
| All-on-4 (full arch) | Not funded | £12,000–£50,000 | 15–25 years | Only relevant when most or all teeth are going. |
Private ranges cover every option and material within each treatment. Lifespans are typical outcomes rather than guarantees and depend heavily on oral hygiene and bite forces.
The NHS answer is unusually good value here and worth stating plainly: a bridge or a denture is covered by one Band 3 charge of £332.10 in England, regardless of how much laboratory work goes into it. Implants are not routinely funded, which is the single biggest fork in this decision.
Where an implant earns its price is over decades rather than on the day. It is the only option that stops the bone under the gap from resorbing, and the only one that does not depend on the neighbouring teeth — a bridge permanently reduces two healthy teeth to carry it, and if either fails later the whole bridge goes with it. Priced over 25 years, one implant competes with two successive private bridges even before that risk is counted.
For a fuller breakdown of implant pricing including bone grafts and finance, see the true cost of dental implants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to replace a missing tooth in the UK?
A partial denture on the NHS costs £332.10 (Band 3) and is the cheapest option. Private partial dentures start from £400. However, over 20 years, a well-placed implant (£2,000–£3,500) may work out cheaper than multiple denture replacements.
Is a dental implant worth the cost compared to a bridge?
For most patients, yes. An implant preserves jaw bone, does not require grinding down adjacent teeth, and lasts 25+ years. A bridge lasts 10–15 years and requires removing healthy enamel from the neighbouring teeth. Over 25 years, a bridge may need replacing 2–3 times — costing more in total.
Can I get a free replacement tooth on the NHS?
Bridges and dentures are available on the NHS at Band 3 (£332.10 in England). NHS dental implants are not routinely available — they are generally restricted to cases of trauma, cancer or severe medical need.
How long does it take to get a dental implant?
The full implant process typically takes 3–9 months from placement to the final crown. After the titanium fixture is placed in the jaw, you wait 3–6 months for osseointegration (the implant fusing with bone) before the crown is attached.