Your options at a glance
| Implant | Bridge | Partial denture | Complete denture | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed or removable | Fixed | Fixed | Removable | Removable |
| Affects other teeth | No | Teeth either side are shaped | Clasps rest on some teeth | No teeth left |
| Surgery | Yes, minor | No | No | No |
| Time | Usually 3–6 months | 2–3 weeks | 2–4 weeks | 3–6 weeks |
| Relative cost | Highest per tooth | Middle | Lower | Lower |
Damaged teeth as well as missing teeth?
When several teeth are worn or heavily restored, an assessment may need to consider the whole bite as well as the gaps. Full mouth rehabilitation can combine care for retained teeth with replacements. Crowns protect suitable existing teeth; bridges, implants and dentures replace missing ones.
Replacing one or a few teeth
- Dental implants: a titanium post in the jaw with a crown on top.
- Immediate implants: an implant placed in the same visit as the extraction, often with a temporary tooth the same day.
- Guided implant surgery: implants planned in 3D from a CBCT scan and placed through a custom surgical guide.
- Sinus lift and bone grafting: rebuilding bone so an implant can be placed.
- Dental bridges: a false tooth fixed to crowns on the teeth either side.
- Partial dentures and cast partial dentures: removable, held by clasps; cast metal frameworks are thinner and stronger.
Replacing all the teeth in a jaw
- Complete dentures: the traditional full set.
- Implant overdentures: a removable denture that clips onto two to four implants, so it stops moving.
- Hybrid (fixed) dentures: a full arch screwed onto implants, which you don’t take out.
- Full-mouth implants (All-on-4 and All-on-6): fixed teeth on four to six implants.
- Basal implants: implants anchored in the dense basal bone, often with fixed teeth within days and without bone grafting.
- Zygomatic implants: long implants anchored in the cheekbone for a fixed upper jaw when there is too little bone for regular implants.
- Full-mouth rehabilitation: rebuilding a whole mouth of worn, broken and missing teeth.
Helpful reading
- Dental implant cost in Gurugram
- Implant or bridge?
- Implants or dentures?
- Treatment options for several missing teeth
- Do I need a prosthodontist?
Questions patients ask us
What is the best way to replace a missing tooth?
For most people with healthy gums and enough bone, an implant is the closest thing to a natural tooth and doesn't affect the neighbouring teeth. A bridge is quicker and avoids surgery but involves shaping the teeth either side. A partial denture is the least expensive and least invasive, but removable. The best option depends on your bone, gums, neighbouring teeth, health and budget.
What happens if I don't replace a missing tooth?
Not always a problem, especially at the very back of the mouth. But often the neighbouring teeth tilt into the gap, the opposing tooth drifts, food traps, and chewing shifts to the other side. Bone in the gap also shrinks over time, which can make an implant harder later.
Am I too old for implants?
Age alone rarely rules out implants. What matters is your general health, bone and gums, and medicines such as bisphosphonates. Many people in their sixties and seventies have implants or implant-supported dentures.
Who will treat me?
Dr. Adish Chaudhary, a prosthodontist, plans and carries out implant, bridge and denture treatment at the clinic himself. Prosthodontics is the dental specialty for restoring and replacing teeth.
How much does it cost to replace missing teeth?
It depends on the option and how many teeth are involved. We give a written estimate after examining you and, for implants, after an X-ray or 3D scan. See our implant cost page for what a fair quote should include.
Last updated 24 October 2026.