Replace a Missing Tooth | Dental Implant vs Bridge

οδοντικό εμφύτευμα για ένα δόντι που λείπει

Losing a Tooth

Losing a tooth is a concerning experience. It may occur after trauma or as a result of dental disease and is often followed by questions about what should be done next.

If you have lost a tooth and wish to replace it, there are several restorative options available today, with the most common being a dental bridge or a dental implant. The appropriate choice depends on the position of the tooth, oral function, and your individual needs.

What Happens When a Tooth Is Missing?

When a tooth is lost and the gap is left untreated, the neighboring teeth gradually shift toward the empty space, while the opposing tooth in the opposite jaw may over-erupt. These changes can lead to bite irregularities and difficulties in maintaining proper oral hygiene.

At the same time, the bone in the area of the missing tooth begins to resorb, which may complicate future restorations, such as dental implants.

Front vs Back Tooth – Why It Matters

When a missing tooth is located in the front area of the mouth, replacement is mainly an aesthetic concern and is usually addressed promptly.

In contrast, tooth loss in the back of the mouth primarily affects function. Chewing efficiency is significantly reduced, and if the gap remains untreated, the risk of bite problems and further tooth loss increases over time.

Options for Replacing a Single Missing Tooth

The most common options for replacing a single missing tooth are a dental bridge or a dental implant. Each solution follows a different treatment philosophy and has specific indications, which are evaluated on an individual basis.

The Dental Bridge Option

A dental bridge replaces the missing tooth by relying on the adjacent teeth, which are prepared to create space for the restoration. It is a functional solution, particularly when the neighboring teeth already require crowns.

The Dental Implant Option

A dental implant addresses tooth loss directly at the site where it occurs. It is placed into the bone and acts as an artificial root, supporting the new tooth.

Replacing a missing tooth with an implant is considered the most conservative option, as it does not require intervention on adjacent teeth. After treatment is completed, the new tooth functions like a natural one and allows normal use of dental floss.

With a dental implant, the problem of tooth loss remains limited to the affected area and does not extend to neighboring teeth, unlike with dental bridges.

Which Option Is Right for Me?

There is no single solution that suits everyone. The choice of treatment is made after a clinical examination and discussion, taking into account the position of the tooth, the condition of adjacent teeth, available bone, and your functional needs.

The goal is to select the option that restores oral function and aesthetics safely, with long-term stability.

BEFORE and AFTER

Cases treated in our clinic.

Proceed with the arrow on the right for more photos of each case

After

A dental implant was placed in place of the missing tooth and then a zirconia crown was made.

Απώλεια πρόσθιου δοντιού, αντιμετώπιση με εμφύτευμα/ DentArtistry

Before

Our patient had lost a central incisor due to a fracture.

When she came to the office, she was using a mobile device to fill in the missing tooth.

After

This is the Maryland Bridge, bonded in the mouth.
It can be removed and reinserted between appointments.

Απώλεια πρόσθιου δοντιού, αντιμετώπιση με εμφύτευμα, χαμόγελο ασθενούς

Before

Until the implant crown was placed, the patient used a Maryland bridge, a bridge with metal wings that is bonded to the posterior surface of the adjacent teeth without any preparation.

Replacement of an anterior tooth with an implant

After

In addition to the dental implant, we also changed the crowns on the remaining front teeth and replaced the composite veneer with a porcelain veneer.

Εμφύτευμα και στεφάνες σε πρόσθια δόντια / DentArtistry

Before

Our patient already had crowns on the front teeth and a composite veneer.

One of the teeth with a crown was fractured. This is the tooth that appears to be protruding slightly.

After

Crowns on teeth and the implant, after the treatment

Health of the gums is excellent both around the crowns of the natural teeth and around the implant.

Before

The presence of teeth with crowns to be replaced, is very useful in the intermediate stages of treatment because the temporary crowns of the teeth can fill in the missing tooth during the osseointegration stage.

Dental implant and crowns on natural teeth

After

Prosthetic rehabilitation of congenital tooth absence with dental implants fully restores the proper alignment of the remaining teeth within the dental arch.

Συγγενής έλλειψη πλάγιων τομέων και οδοντικά εμφυτεύματα

Before

Congenital absence of the lateral incisors is often managed with orthodontic treatment in order to create adequate space for the placement of dental implants.

After

Depending on the type of dental implant selected, crowns can be fabricated using materials that closely replicate the aesthetics of natural tooth structure.

The skill and expertise of the dental laboratory play a crucial role in the final outcome.

Before

Dental Implants for Missing Lateral Incisors

Congenitally Missing Lateral Incisors and Dental Implants

After

By placing a dental implant in the premolar area, the missing tooth is replaced, the dental arch is restored, and the patient can chew comfortably without grinding down healthy natural teeth.

Αποκατάσταση με οδοντικό εμφύτευμα- DentArtistry

Before

In the patient shown in the photograph, a premolar was missing in the upper jaw.

The adjacent teeth were healthy, and a dental bridge was not considered an appropriate treatment option for this patient.

After

Dental Implant Restoration for Missing Teeth

Before

Missing Premolar in the Upper Jaw

Dental Implant in the Position of a Missing Posterior Tooth

Questions

What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is an artificial root, usually made of titanium, which is placed into the jawbone to replace a missing tooth.

After placement, the implant remains in the bone for a period of time to allow full integration. Once this process is completed, the new tooth is fabricated and attached to the implant.
Why Do I Need to Wait Before Getting My Final Tooth?
After implant placement, time is required for the implant to bond securely with the jawbone. This process is called osseointegration and is essential for the long-term success of the treatment.

Osseointegration usually occurs faster in the lower jaw than in the upper jaw and takes approximately three months on average, although healing time may vary from patient to patient.
Am I a Suitable Candidate for a Dental Implant?
To answer this safely, a complete medical history is required. In general, if you are in good health and there is sufficient bone in the area, dental implant placement is possible.

Evaluation usually begins with a panoramic X-ray, while in many cases a three-dimensional radiographic examination is also required to accurately assess the bone.
What Will I Use Until I Get My Final Tooth?
If the missing tooth is located in the back of the mouth, a temporary restoration is usually not necessary.

However, when a front tooth is missing, a temporary solution can be provided, such as a Maryland bridge, or in selected cases immediate implant loading may be performed, so you are not left without a tooth.
What Is Immediate Implant Loading?
Immediate loading is a technique in which the dental implant is placed and a temporary tooth is attached during the same appointment.

This technique is only used when the implant demonstrates sufficient initial stability at placement and is mainly preferred in the front area of the mouth, provided that the bite conditions allow it.
I Am 18 Years Old — Can I Get a Dental Implant?
Dental implants are placed only after jaw growth has been completed. For this reason, it is generally recommended to wait until the age of 23–25, ensuring that growth has finished and reducing the risk of future aesthetic or functional problems.
Will Implant Placement Be Painful?
Dental implant placement is performed under local anesthesia, and no pain is felt during the procedure.

In most cases, the process is simpler and less uncomfortable than a tooth extraction. Any postoperative discomfort is usually managed with mild pain medication.
I Don’t Want Metal in My Mouth — Titanium Concerns Me
Titanium is a biologically inert material and extremely compatible with the human body. Bone cells are able to grow on its surface, allowing stable integration of the implant into the bone.

The same material has been used safely for decades in orthopedic surgery. For patients who prefer not to use titanium, alternative options such as ceramic dental implants are also available..