Dental Bridge or Dental Implants? How to Choose

Both a bridge and an implant can replace a missing tooth. They work in different ways, and each suits different mouths. This guide compares them fairly.

Key points

• A conventional bridge is a false tooth held by crowns on the teeth either side of the gap. An implant replaces the root as well as the crown.
• A bridge needs no surgery and is usually quicker, but the neighbouring teeth are shaped to carry crowns.
• An implant leaves the neighbouring teeth alone, but it needs surgery and the bone needs three to six months to bond.⁶
• In a review of 19 studies, 89.1 percent of conventional bridges were still in place after ten years, and 96.8 percent of single-crown implants after five years in a separate review.¹³
• The deciding factors are the health of the neighbouring teeth, the bone, your health and how carefully you can clean.

When a tooth is lost, a dentist may discuss a bridge and an implant as the two fixed options. A fixed replacement stays in your mouth and you do not take it out, which is the main difference from a denture.⁵ Which is better depends on your gap, your neighbouring teeth, your bone and your priorities.

How a bridge works

A conventional bridge is a false tooth with a crown at each end. The crowns fit over the teeth on either side of the gap, called abutment teeth, and the false tooth sits between them. To make room for the crowns, the abutment teeth are shaped. A bridge is made in a laboratory from impressions or scans, and usually takes two visits.

Because the crowns are fixed to the abutments, the bridge stays in place and you cannot take it out.⁵ You can read more on our page about dental bridges.

How an implant works

An implant replaces the root as well as the crown. A titanium post is placed in the jawbone, the bone bonds to it over about three to six months, and a crown is fixed to it.⁶ The neighbouring teeth are not touched. Our page on a single tooth implant explains the steps, and our article on single tooth implants goes into more depth.

Side by side

	Bridge	Implant
Surgery	None	A small operation to place the post
Time	Usually a few weeks	Several months, as the bone needs three to six months to bond6
Neighbouring teeth	Shaped to carry crowns	Not touched
Bone under the gap	Not stimulated, so it can shrink	Held by the post
Cleaning	Under the false tooth, with floss or interdental brushes	Around the implant, with interdental brushes
Main reasons for failure	Decay and gum disease at the abutment teeth	The implant not bonding, or gum inflammation around it

What the research says about bridges

In a review of 19 studies, 89.1 percent of conventional bridges were still in place after ten years, though only 71.1 percent had no complication.¹ Decay and gum disease led to loss of 2.6 and 0.7 percent of bridges, loss of retention affected 6.4 percent, abutment tooth fracture 2.1 percent and material fracture 3.2 percent over ten years.¹ Another review of fixed bridges found that 38.7 percent of patients had some complication by five years, mostly technical.²

What the research says about implants

In a review of 26 studies, 96.8 percent of implants supporting single crowns were still in place after five years.³ A systematic review of studies that followed patients for at least ten years found that 94.6 percent of implants were still in place after 13.4 years on average.⁴ The screw or abutment loosened in 12.7 percent of cases over five years, and gum problems occurred next to 9.7 percent of crowns.³

These are group figures, drawn from different studies, so you cannot simply compare one with the other. They suggest that both can last many years, and that both need maintenance.

When a bridge may suit you better

• The teeth either side of the gap already need crowns, so little healthy tooth is lost.
• You prefer to avoid surgery.
• You want a quicker result.
• There is too little bone for an implant and you do not want a graft. A graft adds at least four months.⁶
• Your health or medicines make surgery unsuitable.

When an implant may suit you better

• The neighbouring teeth are healthy and you want to leave them alone.
• The gap is at the end of a row, with no tooth behind it, so a bridge cannot be supported.
• You want to help the bone under the gap to stay.
• You are ready to clean carefully and keep your check-ups.

Questions to ask

1. Which do you advise for my gap, and why?
2. What would the alternative involve?
3. How healthy are the teeth beside the gap?
4. Do I have enough bone for an implant?
5. What would happen if the treatment failed?

For a wider view, see our guide to missing teeth, our comparison of dentures and implants, and our complete guide to dental implants.

How a bridge is made and fitted

A bridge usually takes two visits. At the first, the teeth either side of the gap are shaped to carry crowns, impressions or scans are taken and a temporary bridge is fitted to protect the teeth and fill the gap. The laboratory then makes the bridge. At the second visit, the temporary bridge is removed, the final bridge is checked for fit, colour and bite and then fixed in place.

The shaping of the supporting teeth is not reversible, so it is worth asking how much of each tooth will be removed and how healthy those teeth are. If they are already heavily filled or crowned, a bridge may use them well. If they are sound and untouched, an implant may protect them better.

The key question: how healthy are the neighbouring teeth?

When dentists weigh a bridge against an implant, the teeth beside the gap often decide the matter. The dentist looks at:

• whether the neighbouring teeth have large fillings, crowns or decay;
• how strong and healthy their roots and gums are, as shown on X-rays;
• whether the teeth are likely to last for many years or already have problems;
• how the bite falls on the bridge.

A bridge puts extra load on the supporting teeth, so it works well when they are healthy and have good bone support. If one of them fails, the whole bridge may need to be replaced.¹²

How a decision often comes together

Situation	What often points the way
Neighbouring teeth are healthy and untouched	An implant, which leaves them alone
Neighbouring teeth already have crowns	A bridge may use them well
The gap is at the end of a row	An implant, since a bridge needs a tooth at each end
Bone is thin and you do not want a graft	A bridge, since a graft adds at least four months6
You want the quickest fixed option	A bridge
Your health makes surgery unsuitable	A bridge or a denture

This table is a guide. Your dentist can tell you which of these apply to you and why.

Myths and facts

Myth: a bridge always damages the neighbouring teeth. The neighbouring teeth are shaped to carry crowns, which does involve removing some enamel, but if those teeth already need crowns, little is lost. Decay and gum disease at those teeth are the commonest reasons bridges are lost, and good cleaning protects them.¹

Myth: an implant is always the better choice. An implant leaves the neighbours alone, but it needs surgery, time and enough bone. For some people a bridge is the more sensible option.

Myth: either one lasts for life. Neither is a promise of a lifetime. In a review of 19 studies, 89.1 percent of conventional bridges were still in place after ten years,¹ and in a review of 26 studies 96.8 percent of single implants were in place after five years.³ Both can need repair.

Fact: cleaning is the deciding factor for both. Plaque around the abutment teeth or around the implant causes most of the problems.

Looking after each

A bridge. Clean carefully under the false tooth every day with floss or interdental brushes, and keep to regular check-ups, because decay and gum disease are the commonest causes of bridge loss.¹

An implant. Clean around the implant crown every day, and keep to regular reviews, because gum disease can affect implants too.³

What to do next

1. Ask your dentist to explain your gap, your neighbouring teeth and your bone.
2. Ask what each option involves in time, surgery and upkeep.
3. Ask what would happen if the treatment failed.
4. Decide what matters to you: speed, avoiding surgery, protecting the neighbours or a fixed result.
5. Take your time, and get a second opinion if you are unsure.

Frequently asked questions

Which lasts longer, a bridge or an implant?

Research on both shows that many last ten years or more, but the figures come from different studies and cannot be compared directly. Both need regular care.¹⁴

Does a bridge damage the neighbouring teeth?

The neighbouring teeth are shaped to carry crowns, and decay and gum disease at those teeth are the commonest reasons bridges are lost.¹

Can I have an implant if I smoke?

Smokers have a much greater failure rate, and NHS guidance asks patients to stop at least six months before treatment.⁶

Is an implant more expensive in time?

It takes longer, because the bone needs months to bond, but a bridge needs fewer visits and no surgery.

Is it possible to change from a bridge to an implant later?

Sometimes. If a bridge fails, the gap can be reassessed, and an implant may be possible depending on the bone.

Which is quicker?

A bridge, which usually takes a few weeks. An implant takes months because the bone needs time to bond.⁶

Do bridges and implants look different?

Both are made to match your other teeth, and your dentist can show you what to expect.

How long does a bridge take to make?

It is usually made over a few weeks, with two main visits and a temporary bridge in between. Your dentist can give you the timeline for your case.

What if one of the supporting teeth fails?

The bridge usually has to be replaced or rebuilt, because it depends on those teeth. That is one reason dentists check their health before suggesting a bridge.¹

About the author

Sources

1. Tan K, Pjetursson BE, Lang NP, Chan ES. A systematic review of the survival and complication rates of fixed partial dentures (FPDs) after an observation period of at least 5 years. III. Conventional FPDs. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2004;15(6):654-666. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15533126/
2. Pjetursson BE, Bragger U, Lang NP, Zwahlen M. Comparison of survival and complication rates of tooth-supported fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) and implant-supported FDPs and single crowns (SCs). Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2007;18(Suppl 3):97-113. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17594374/
3. Jung RE, Pjetursson BE, Glauser R, Zembic A, Zwahlen M, Lang NP. A systematic review of the 5-year survival and complication rates of implant-supported single crowns. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2008;19(2):119-130. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18067597/
4. Moraschini V, Poubel LA, Ferreira VF, Barboza EdS. Evaluation of survival and success rates of dental implants reported in longitudinal studies with a follow-up period of at least 10 years: a systematic review. International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2015. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25467739/
5. NHS website. Dentures (false teeth) (patient information). Page review date 19 March 2025. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dentures/
6. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Dental implants in restorative dentistry (patient information). https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/dental-implants-in-restorative-dentistry/

Medically reviewed by Dr Anupam Sinha, BDS, MDS – Orthodontics, on 23 October 2026. General information for patients from Orion Dental Clinic, last updated 23 October 2026. It is not advice for one person, so ask a dentist what suits you. To report an error, contact us.