Treatment

Dental crowns, bridges and implants

A crown caps a tooth too damaged to hold a filling. A bridge fills a gap by joining to the teeth on either side. An implant replaces the root itself with a titanium post placed in the jawbone, and is the closest replacement to a natural tooth. Which one suits you depends on the bone available, the condition of the neighbouring teeth, your general health, and how long the tooth has been missing. The trade-offs are worth understanding before choosing. A bridge is faster and needs no surgery, but it requires cutting down two healthy teeth to carry it. An implant leaves the neighbouring teeth untouched and preserves the bone that otherwise shrinks after an extraction, but it takes months to integrate and needs enough bone to place it in.

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Medically reviewed by Dr. Binaya Bhandari, Owner and Dental Surgeon, NMC 20701. Last updated 16 August 2026.

Dental implant model showing the titanium screw set in the jawbone beside a natural tooth and crown — An implant replaces the root; the crown on top replaces the tooth.

When do you need this treatment?

A tooth is missing and the gap is affecting chewing or the teeth beside it
A tooth has cracked or broken away after a root canal
An old crown or bridge has loosened
You want a fixed replacement rather than a removable one

What happens during your visit?

1Examination and X-ray to check the bone and the surrounding teeth
2The options explained side by side, crown, bridge or implant, with what each involves
3Preparation and impressions, then a temporary while the permanent one is made
4Fitting, bite adjustment, and a review

What happens if you leave it untreated?

A gap is not a stable situation. The teeth on either side tilt into it and the tooth above or below drifts down, which changes the bite and makes later replacement more complicated. The jawbone under a missing tooth also shrinks steadily, and lost bone has to be grafted back before an implant becomes possible.

What is recovery like?

Crowns and bridges need no recovery beyond getting used to the shape, though the prepared tooth can be sensitive while a temporary is in place. Implant surgery involves swelling for a few days, and the post then integrates with the bone over roughly three to six months before the crown is attached.

General guidance only. Your own recovery depends on your case, and the dentist treating you will tell you what to expect.

Questions you might have

Dental Crown, Bridge & Implant

Implant, bridge or denture, which should I choose?

An implant preserves bone and leaves neighbouring teeth untouched, but costs more and takes months. A bridge is quicker but requires cutting down two healthy teeth. A denture is removable and the least invasive. The right answer depends on your bone, your neighbouring teeth and your budget.

How long do crowns and implants last?

Both can last many years, and both depend far more on cleaning and bite than on the material used. Implants fail mainly through gum infection around them, which is preventable. No honest dentist will give you a guaranteed lifespan for either.

Is implant surgery painful?

Placement is done under local anaesthetic, and most patients report less discomfort than they expected, often comparable to an extraction. Swelling and tenderness for a few days afterwards is normal and usually managed with ordinary painkillers.

How much do crowns, bridges and implants cost?

It varies a lot: a bridge crossing several teeth costs more than a single crown, and an implant costs more again because of the surgery and the months of healing it needs. Ask for the price for your specific case at the consultation, once the dentist has actually seen the gap and your bone.

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