If you are missing a tooth, there are three common ways to replace it: a fixed dental bridge, which rests on the teeth next to the gap; a dental implant with a crown, which sits in the jawbone; or a removable partial denture, which you take in and out. No single option is right for everyone. The choice depends on your bone, your gums, the neighboring teeth, your health and your budget.
It is normal to feel lost with so many new terms. Here is a plain-language guide, step by step.
The ADA notes on MouthHealthy that a missing tooth can change the way you chew and speak. Your mouth also changes over time:
Tooth loss is very common. According to the NIDCR, adults 65 and older have an average of 21 remaining teeth, out of the 32 in a full adult set.
A bridge is an artificial tooth held between two crowns. Those crowns are cemented onto the teeth on either side, which the dentist first has to reshape (file down). Only a dentist can remove a fixed bridge, and its success depends on healthy supporting teeth (MouthHealthy). Learn more about dental crowns and bridges.
An implant is a small post, usually titanium, placed in the jawbone, with a crown on top. MedlinePlus explains that implants replace both the root and the tooth. The bone needs to bond with the implant, which can take up to several months before the final tooth goes on (MouthHealthy). More on dental implants.
A partial replaces one or several teeth, and you take it out to clean it. It usually has a gum-colored base and clasps that hook onto your teeth. It may feel strange at first when you talk and eat, and over the years it may need adjustments (MedlinePlus). More on dentures.
| Fixed bridge | Implant with crown | Removable partial | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it attaches | Cemented onto crowns on the neighboring teeth. Fixed. | A post in the bone holds the crown. Fixed. | Rests on the gums, with clasps on your teeth. You remove it. |
| Affects neighboring teeth? | Yes: they must be reshaped. | Usually not. | The clasps rest on them. |
| Visits and time | Several visits over a few weeks. | Surgery, a healing wait of up to several months, then the crown. | Several visits for impressions and try-ins, then adjustments. |
| Cleaning | Brushing, plus cleaning under the false tooth with a floss threader or small interdental brush. | Like a natural tooth: brushing and cleaning between teeth. | Take it out and brush it daily; remove it at night (MedlinePlus). |
| How long it lasts in studies | About 94% still in place at 5 years and about 89% at 10 (Pjetursson 2007). | Implant: 97% at 5 years and 95% at 10. Crown on top: 96% and 89% (Jung 2012). | Less data. In an older study of metal-frame partials, about 75% were still in use at 5 years and half at 10 (Vermeulen 1996). |
| Often a good fit for | People whose neighboring teeth already need crowns, or who prefer to avoid surgery. | People with enough bone, good overall health and healthy neighboring teeth. | People missing several teeth in different spots, or who need a solution while they decide. |
Keep in mind that "still in place" does not mean "problem-free." In the Pjetursson review, 15.7% of patients with a bridge had some complication by 5 years, mostly decay or nerve problems in the supporting teeth. With single implants, the crown screw came loose in 8.8% of cases (Jung 2012). That is why regular checkups matter with all three options.
Compare the total cost over time, not just the first payment. We explain how in what a dental implant price really includes.
In a systematic review, 6.35% of implants failed in smokers, compared with 3.18% in nonsmokers (Chrcanovic 2015). For people with diabetes, another review found no difference in implant failure, but slightly more bone loss around the implant (Chrcanovic 2014). The NIDCR notes that diabetes can slow healing.
If you take medications, such as blood thinners or bone medicines, tell your dentist and talk with your doctor. Do not stop or change any medication on your own. If you are over 65, read dental implants after 65; if you are missing many teeth, see regular, snap-in or fixed dentures.
Getting another opinion is normal. Here is how to get a dental second opinion.
When not to wait: if a tooth breaks, MedlinePlus advises having a dentist check it right away. If your face or jaw is swollen, or you have a fever, call your dentist the same day. If you have trouble breathing or swallowing, call 911 or go to the emergency room. More in dental emergency in Kendall: what to do.
PureSmile Miami opens on November 2, 2026, at 8000 SW 117th Ave, Suite 100, in Kendall. At your first visit, our dentist examines the gap, the neighboring teeth and your gums, and walks you through your X-rays to explain which options apply to you, and why. When the bone needs a closer look, the clinic has 3D imaging (CBCT), and we use an intraoral scanner to take digital impressions of your mouth. We see patients in English or Spanish, verify your insurance for free and give you a written treatment plan before we start.
Join the waitlist or call us at (305) 787-3642.
Neither is right for everyone. In studies, about 89% of bridges and of crowns on implants were still in place at 10 years. The choice depends on your neighboring teeth, bone, health, timeline and cost.
In a systematic review, about 94% of bridges were still in place at 5 years and about 89% at 10 years. Caring for the supporting teeth and keeping up with checkups helps.
Get it evaluated, even if it does not hurt. Over time, nearby teeth can shift and the bone shrinks. You do not have to decide on the same day.
It may be possible. The ADA says your health matters more than your age, but diabetes may interfere with healing. Your dentist will evaluate your case; talk with your doctor too.
MedlinePlus recommends taking dentures out at night and keeping them in water or a denture-cleansing liquid. Ask your dentist what works for you.
General information; not a substitute for an in-person evaluation. Sources: MedlinePlus; NIDCR; MouthHealthy (ADA); Pjetursson et al. (Clin Oral Implants Res, 2007); Jung et al. (Clin Oral Implants Res, 2012); Vermeulen et al. (J Prosthet Dent, 1996); Tan et al. (Clin Oral Implants Res, 2012); Craddock et al. (J Prosthodont, 2007); Chrcanovic et al. (J Dent, 2015; J Dent Res, 2014). Yoan Suárez Zayas, DMD · FL Lic. DN 21413.
