Why a gap is never just a gap
When a tooth is lost, the changes start quietly. Neighboring teeth drift into the space. The opposing tooth grows toward the gap. And the jawbone that held the root, no longer stimulated by chewing, begins to shrink. The longer replacement waits, the more involved it becomes, which is why we’d rather have this conversation early.
Option one: dental implants
An implant replaces the root itself with a titanium post that fuses to your jawbone, topped by a crown. It’s the only option that preserves bone, it doesn’t touch neighboring teeth, and with good care it can last a lifetime. One implant replaces one tooth; a few strategically placed implants can carry a bridge or anchor a full arch. The trade-offs: it’s a surgical process that takes a few months start to finish, and it asks for healthy gums and adequate bone, though grafting can often rebuild what’s missing. Details on our implant page.
Option two: a fixed bridge
A bridge spans the gap with a replacement tooth anchored to crowns on the neighbors. It’s faster than an implant and completely fixed in place. The costs: the anchor teeth must be reshaped for crowns, the bone under the gap keeps shrinking, and bridges typically need replacement after a decade or so of service.
Option three: dentures
Full or partial dentures restore many teeth at the lowest upfront cost and without surgery. Being removable, they move more than natural teeth, chewing power is lower, and bone loss continues underneath. A middle path worth knowing about: implant-supported dentures, where a few implants lock the denture firmly in place.
How to choose
It comes down to your health, your bone, your priorities, and your budget. Our job is to lay out what each path looks like for your specific mouth, coordinate with your general dentist, and let you decide without pressure.