Side by side
| Implant | Bridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Teeth either side | Left untouched | Shaped for crowns |
| Surgery | Yes, minor, under local anaesthetic | No |
| Time to the final tooth | Usually 3–6 months | Usually 2–3 weeks |
| Survival at 10 years in reviews | About 89% (implant crowns) | About 89% (conventional bridges) |
| Cleaning | Brush and floss like a natural tooth | Clean under the false tooth with a threader or water flosser |
| Bone where the tooth was | Kept, as the implant loads it | Slowly shrinks under the false tooth |
| Cost at the start | Higher | Lower for a short span |
When an implant is the better choice
- The teeth either side are healthy or only lightly filled. Cutting them down for a bridge removes healthy tooth for good.
- There’s enough bone, or bone can be added with grafting or a sinus lift.
- You want a tooth that you clean and floss on its own.
- The gap is at the end of the row, where a regular bridge has no tooth behind it to hold on to.
When a bridge is the better choice
- The teeth either side already have large fillings or crowns and would benefit from new crowns anyway.
- Implant surgery isn’t advisable, for example with some medical conditions or medications.
- You need fixed teeth within weeks.
- Bone loss is significant and you’d rather not have grafting.
What the research says
A systematic review of implant single crowns found 96.3% survival at five years and 89.4% at ten. A review of conventional tooth-supported bridges found 89.1% at ten years. So both last well. The difference is in what can go wrong. Bridges are most often lost through decay or root canal problems in the supporting teeth. Implants are most often troubled by screw loosening or by gum inflammation around them (peri-implantitis), which regular cleaning and check-ups help prevent.
Questions to ask whoever treats you
- How healthy are the teeth either side, and would they need crowns anyway?
- Is there enough bone, and do I need grafting?
- How long until I have a fixed tooth, and what do I wear in the meantime?
- What does the estimate include: the scan, the implant, the abutment and the crown, or each crown of the bridge?
How we decide with you
At Petal Smiles, prosthodontist Dr. Adish Chaudhary plans the replacement and our implantologist places implants where surgery is needed. After an examination and X-rays or a 3D scan, you’ll get both options explained for your own mouth, with a written estimate for each. See dental implants, dental bridges and the implant cost guide.
Questions patients ask us
Which lasts longer, an implant or a bridge?
Ten-year survival is similar in research, about 89% for both implant crowns and conventional bridges. Implants avoid the decay and root canal problems that can affect the teeth holding a bridge, so many implants last well beyond that.
Is an implant more expensive than a bridge?
For one tooth, an implant usually costs more at the start. A three-unit bridge is three crowns, so the difference is often smaller than people expect, and an implant doesn't put the teeth either side at risk later.
Does getting an implant hurt?
It's done under local anaesthetic, and most people describe it as easier than an extraction. Expect some soreness for a few days.
Can I have a bridge on implants?
Yes. When several teeth in a row are missing, two implants can hold a bridge of three or four teeth, so you don't need one implant per tooth.
What if I do nothing?
The teeth either side can tip into the gap, the opposite tooth can over-erupt, and the bone where the tooth was slowly shrinks. That makes later treatment harder, so it's worth deciding within a few months.
Sources
Jung et al., survival of implant-supported single crowns: systematic review, Clin Oral Implants Res, 2012 ↗Tan et al., survival of conventional fixed partial dentures: systematic review, Clin Oral Implants Res, 2004 ↗ADA MouthHealthy: bridges ↗ADA MouthHealthy: dental implants ↗Last updated 14 October 2026.