Replacing a missing tooth.

Four options, side by side, and a typical timeline of what happens if you leave the gap.

Implant

A new root and tooth

Best for most people

Cost: $$$$
How long: 4 to 12 months

What's good

Feels like a real tooth
Brush and floss it normally
The teeth next to it are left untouched
Lasts the longest

What to know

You need enough bone
Small surgery
Takes the longest

Bridge

Anchored to both sides

Cost: $$$
How long: 2 to 8 weeks

What's good

Looks real
Stays in. Nothing to take out
Done in a few weeks

What to know

We shave down the two teeth beside the gap
Harder to floss

Partial

Takes in and out

Cost: $$
How long: About 8 weeks

What's good

Replaces more than one tooth
Helps you chew again
We can add teeth to it later
Costs the least to start

What to know

Comes out to clean
Takes time to get used to
Least comfortable

Do nothing

Leave the gap

Cost: $ now, a lot more later
How long: No visits

What's good

Nothing to do today

What to know

Nearby teeth tilt into the gap
The tooth above drops down
Chewing gets harder
Your bite changes
Bone shrinks away

Option	ImplantA new root and toothBest for most people	BridgeAnchored to both sides	PartialTakes in and out	Do nothingLeave the gap
Cost	$$$$	$$$	$$	$ now a lot more later
How long	4 to 12 months	2 to 8 weeks	About 8 weeks	No visits
What's good	Feels like a real tooth Brush and floss it normally The teeth next to it are left untouched Lasts the longest	Looks real Stays in. Nothing to take out Done in a few weeks	Replaces more than one tooth Helps you chew again We can add teeth to it later Costs the least to start	Nothing to do today
What to know	You need enough bone Small surgery Takes the longest	We shave down the two teeth beside the gap Harder to floss	Comes out to clean Takes time to get used to Least comfortable	Nearby teeth can tilt into the gap The tooth above can drop down Chewing can get harder Your bite can change Bone shrinks away

A general guide for discussion. Your exam determines what is right for you. Download this chart

What happens if you wait.

A missing tooth is rarely just a gap. Teeth work as a set, and removing one often starts the whole system moving. This is a typical timeline of doing nothing.

Months 0 to 6

The bone starts shrinking

The jawbone under the missing tooth loses its stimulation and begins to resorb. Most of the loss happens in the first year.

6 to 18 months

The neighbors drift in

Teeth on either side can tip into the empty space, and the tooth above or below can grow down out of its socket looking for something to bite against.

Year 2 and beyond

The bite breaks down

Shifted teeth can change how everything comes together: uneven wear, food traps, gum problems and jaw strain.

The fix, later

Simple becomes complex

What was a straightforward implant may now need bone grafting and orthodontics first. Waiting is often the most expensive option on the menu.

Written by Dr. Peter Bonifatto, DMD, a general dentist in Las Vegas whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative work. General information, not a diagnosis. What your own teeth need is decided at an exam, with x-rays. Reading this page does not create a doctor-patient relationship.

Not sure which one is right for you?

It depends on your bone, your bite and your budget. A consult sorts it out in one visit.

Book a Consultation (702) 852-2829