Implant
Highest upfront cost, best long-term value. It preserves the jawbone, does not touch the adjacent teeth, and cleans like a natural tooth. It requires adequate bone and several months of healing.
Fixed bridge
Faster, typically two to three weeks, and useful when neighboring teeth already need crowns. The tradeoff is that healthy enamel is removed from those teeth and the whole unit is replaced if one abutment fails.
Removable partial denture
Lowest cost and the option when several teeth are missing or bone is insufficient. It is removable, less stable when chewing, and needs periodic relining as the ridge resorbs.
Cost over twenty years
An implant often outlasts two or three bridge replacements. Run the math over decades, not just at the estimate.
Key takeaways
- •Doing nothing causes drifting and future expense.
- •Bridges sacrifice healthy tooth structure.
- •Compare lifetime cost, not just today's fee.
This article is general information, not a diagnosis. Your situation deserves an exam.