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Dental implant vs bridge: replacing one missing tooth in 2026
A bridge anchors a false tooth to adjacent teeth, which must be ground down. An implant sits independently in the jaw. Full comparison with NHS, UK private, and Vietnam prices.
A dental bridge replaces a missing tooth by crowning the two adjacent teeth and suspending a false tooth (pontic) between them. The adjacent teeth must be permanently ground down whether they need crowns or not. A dental implant is a titanium post placed directly into the jaw that supports a crown independently, leaving the adjacent teeth untouched. Implants have better long-term outcomes but cost more and take longer to complete. Bridges are faster and cheaper short-term but involve irreversible changes to healthy neighbouring teeth.
A single missing tooth creates a practical choice: restore the gap with a bridge that involves your adjacent teeth, or place an implant that stands alone in the jaw. Both restore function and appearance. They differ significantly in how they achieve that result and what they mean for your other teeth long-term.
How a dental bridge works
A three-unit dental bridge is the standard approach for replacing one missing tooth. The three units are:
- A crown on the tooth immediately to the left of the gap
- A false tooth (the pontic) suspended over the gap
- A crown on the tooth immediately to the right of the gap
All three units are made as one connected piece in the laboratory. To fit the two crowns, the adjacent teeth must be ground down to crown preparation size, removing 1.5 to 2mm from all surfaces. This happens whether those adjacent teeth need crowns for their own reasons or not.
The bridge is permanently cemented. It does not come out. The pontic sits close to the gum surface but does not contact the jaw bone beneath it.
NHS coverage: Bridges are covered under Band 3 (GBP 332.10 in England) when clinically indicated. The NHS assesses clinical need, not patient preference.
UK private cost: A 3-unit bridge at a UK private clinic typically costs GBP 1,500 to GBP 2,700, depending on material and location.
How a dental implant works
A dental implant is a titanium post, typically 8 to 14mm long, placed into the jaw bone at the site of the missing tooth. The bone grows around the implant surface over three to six months (osseointegration). Once stable, an abutment is attached to the implant, and a crown is fitted on top.
The adjacent teeth are not touched. They are not drilled, crowned, or altered in any way.
Because the implant is embedded in bone, it also stimulates the jaw bone during chewing. This prevents the bone resorption (shrinkage) that occurs at an extraction site if no root is replaced.
NHS availability: NHS implants are not available for routine tooth replacement in adults. The standard NHS alternative to a bridge is a partial denture.
UK private cost: A single implant including fixture, abutment, and crown typically costs GBP 2,500 to GBP 4,000 at UK private clinics.
Picasso prices (correct as of May 2026)
Implant options (fixture + abutment + crown)
| Implant brand | Picasso price |
|---|---|
| Osstem (South Korea) | GBP 725 |
| ETK / Neodent | GBP 870 |
| Nobel Biocare | GBP 1,160 |
| Straumann | GBP 1,160 |
| Straumann BLX (immediate loading) | GBP 1,304 |
Bridge option
A 3-unit Emax bridge at Picasso: 3 units x GBP 261 = GBP 783
A 3-unit Zirconia bridge (for a molar position): 3 units x GBP 203 = GBP 609
Bone grafting, if required before implant placement, adds GBP 116 to GBP 435 depending on volume needed.
Side-by-side comparison
| Bridge | Implant | |
|---|---|---|
| Effect on adjacent teeth | Permanent crowning required | None |
| Bone preservation | No (pontic does not contact bone) | Yes (implant preserves bone) |
| Procedure time | One trip, 2 to 3 weeks | Two trips, 3 to 6 months apart |
| NHS availability | Yes, Band 3 GBP 332.10 | No |
| 10-year survival | ~90% (bridge); adjacent teeth at increased risk | ~95% (implant alone) |
| Picasso price range | GBP 609 to GBP 783 (3-unit Zirconia or Emax) | GBP 725 to GBP 1,304 |
| UK private price range | GBP 1,500 to GBP 2,700 | GBP 2,500 to GBP 4,000 |
| Reversible | No | No (implant is permanent) |
The honest long-term comparison
A bridge is cheaper upfront and can be completed in a single trip. For patients who can only visit Vietnam once, a bridge on Emax for GBP 783 may be the practical choice.
The long-term picture is less straightforward. When you crown healthy adjacent teeth, those teeth become crown-dependent for life. Research shows that approximately 15% of abutment teeth (the anchor teeth) require root canal treatment within 10 years of bridge placement. A tooth that needed no treatment before the bridge may eventually need complex restorative work because of it.
An implant preserves the adjacent teeth completely. Its long-term success rate is slightly higher than a bridge. The greater cost and two-trip requirement are the trade-offs.
For most patients who have healthy adjacent teeth and can make two trips, an implant is the better long-term investment. For patients whose adjacent teeth already have large fillings, old crowns, or existing structural problems, a bridge makes practical sense. Crowning those teeth is appropriate regardless, and the bridge adds only a pontic to a plan that was already going to involve crowns.
When a bridge makes more sense
Consider a bridge when:
- The adjacent teeth already have large restorations and need crowning anyway
- You can only travel to Vietnam once and immediate treatment completion is important
- Budget is a primary constraint and the implant premium does not fit the plan
- The missing tooth is in a low-force position with limited bone for implant placement
When an implant makes more sense
Consider an implant when:
- The adjacent teeth are intact and healthy, and you do not want to sacrifice them
- You want the option to replace any tooth in the gap independently in future
- You are replacing a tooth in a position with high bone volume and good surgical access
- You are already planning other treatment at Picasso across two trips
The two-trip reality
Standard implants require two trips. The first trip covers placement (five to seven days in Vietnam). The second trip, three to six months later, covers the final crown fitting (three to five days).
Immediate loading with Straumann BLX may allow placement and a temporary fixed crown in one trip, with the final crown on a second shorter visit. Dr. Tran Thanh Phong confirms which protocol is appropriate after reviewing your CBCT scan.
If the two-trip requirement is an obstacle, a bridge completed in one visit may be the practical solution.
Diagnostics needed for implant planning
Implant planning requires a CBCT scan to assess bone volume in three dimensions. At Picasso, a CBCT costs GBP 17 and an OPG (panoramic X-ray) costs GBP 9 as of May 2026. A clinical examination costs GBP 6. These diagnostics are essential before Dr. Tran Thanh Phong can confirm implant suitability and recommend a brand.
When to stay in the UK
If your missing tooth gap is recent and you are not in a hurry, the UK dentist who performed the extraction may offer a bridge at a cost closer to the Vietnam option, particularly if the NHS Band 3 rate applies. Do not assume UK private is always significantly more expensive for a single unit. Get a written UK quote first, then compare.
If your UK quote for a bridge or implant is competitive, the case for travelling to Vietnam for a single-tooth replacement is weaker than it is for multi-tooth cases.
For a free itemised GBP quote comparing bridge and implant options for your specific gap, contact Picasso Dental Clinic.