- 223 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8XH
- 020 7928 5844
- 223 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8XH
Dental implants · Waterloo, SE1
A gap can feel like something to deal with later, especially with a busy diary. Here is an honest look at what can change over time when a tooth is not replaced, when leaving it may be reasonable, and the options if you decide to fill it.
Sometimes it matters a lot, and sometimes very little. Teeth work as a team: each one is held in place partly by its neighbours and by the tooth it bites against. When one is lost, that balance can shift slowly over months and years. How much it changes depends on which tooth is missing, the health of the teeth around it and your bite. The aim of this guide is to help you understand the possibilities, not to rush you into treatment.
Left: soon after a lower tooth is lost, the teeth either side are upright and the bone is at full height. Right: years later, the neighbouring teeth have tilted, the opposing upper tooth has drifted down and the bone in the gap has shrunk. Not every gap changes like this. Illustration only.
You may find yourself favouring the other side of your mouth, which puts extra work on those teeth. Food can also collect in the space and around tilted teeth, making cleaning harder.
As teeth tilt and the opposing tooth drifts down, the way your teeth meet can alter. Some people notice new food traps or that their bite feels different.
A gap near the front is visible when you smile or talk. Over time, bone loss can also affect the gum line, which can make a later replacement trickier to match.
The bone that held the root is no longer stimulated, so it tends to shrink gradually. This can affect whether an implant is straightforward later on.
Not every missing tooth needs replacing. A wisdom tooth, or a back tooth where there is nothing to bite against, may cause no trouble at all. Some people are comfortable with a small gap at the back and simply keep an eye on it at their check-ups. If you decide not to replace a tooth, regular reviews let your dentist spot any drifting early, when there are more options.
| Implant | Bridge | Denture | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Titanium post in the bone with a crown on top | False tooth fixed to the teeth either side | Removable plate with one or more teeth |
| Neighbouring teeth | Left untouched | Usually shaped to hold the bridge | Clasps may rest on them |
| Supports the bone | Yes | No | No |
| Number of visits | Several, over a few months | Usually a few weeks | Usually a few weeks |
| Starting price | From £2,250 (Snucone) | From £725 per unit | From £350 (acrylic) |
Read more about single implants and crowns, bridges and dentures. Each option has pros and cons, and the right one depends on your mouth, budget and priorities.
It is very common to come to us years after losing a tooth. Our own CBCT scanner shows the bone in 3D at 223 Waterloo Road, so we can tell you whether an implant is still straightforward. If extra bone is needed, we explain the options, which may include grafting, and include it in your written quote. Where teeth have tilted, a bridge or denture may still work well, and sometimes a little orthodontic movement is worth discussing first.
Compare single implants with bridges and dentures, or see our fees.
It varies a great deal. Some people see little change for years, while others notice drifting sooner. Regular check-ups are the simplest way to keep track.
Often not. A CBCT scan shows how much bone remains. If more is needed, we discuss the options with you.
It can, through extra load on the teeth you chew with and food trapping around tilted teeth. Good cleaning and check-ups help either way.
A denture or bridge is usually quicker to complete than an implant, which needs a few months of healing. We can talk through what suits your schedule.
Yes. *0% finance through Tabeo is available on many treatments, subject to status. See our fees and implant costs.
Related: Dental implants · Single implants · Implant bridges · Implant-retained dentures · Crowns, bridges and dentures · Implant costs
Book an implant consultation (£75, taken off your fee if you go ahead) with Dr Anti at 223 Waterloo Road, SE1 8XH, to talk through every option.