One gap, three real solutions. Which is right depends on the neighbouring teeth, your bone, your budget — and how long you want it to last.
Why a gap should not simply be left
Teeth hold each other in place. Leave a gap and the neighbours tilt into it, the opposing tooth grows down into the space, and your bite slowly changes — often making the eventual repair harder and more expensive than it would have been. Bone in the empty area also shrinks over time.
The exception: a lone back molar, where the bite is stable and chewing is unaffected, can sometimes reasonably be left alone. Your dentist should tell you honestly which case you are.
Your treatment options
Option
When it is the right choice
Pros
Cons
Then choose your material
Implant + crown
The neighbouring teeth are healthy and untouched
Nothing is done to the neighbours; easiest to clean; the closest thing to a real tooth; longest-lived
Neighbours may tilt and the opposing tooth may over-erupt; bone shrinks
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We do not mark a favourite here: which of these is right for you is decided by the state of your tooth, not by preference. Once the treatment is chosen, the material is a real choice — and there we do have a clear preference.
Waiting for treatment? A temporary tooth replacement keeps the gap filled and stops the neighbours drifting while you decide or heal.
If the neighbouring teeth are untouched and healthy: an implant, every time. Grinding down two perfect teeth to replace one missing one is a real cost, and it is permanent. If those neighbours already carry big fillings or crowns, a bridge uses them sensibly and gets you finished in weeks instead of months.
It is a small, routine surgery done under local anesthetic, and survival rates at ten years are around 95%. The main requirements are enough bone and healthy gums — smoking and uncontrolled diabetes lower the odds considerably.
Plan before or at the extraction if you can — options are widest then, and bone can be preserved. But even years later, all three solutions usually remain possible; you may just need a bone graft first.
Get this treatment for free
We collaborate with models and content creators: you record honest videos about your treatment experience, and we cover the dental work.
This guide is general information, not personal medical advice. Every mouth is different — always discuss your situation with a dentist before deciding on treatment.
