Replacing a single front tooth: the options compared
Losing a front tooth affects how you smile, speak and eat. There are four proven ways to replace it, and the best one depends on the teeth either side and the bone underneath.
Medically reviewed by Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, implant surgeon · Updated October 2026The four main options for replacing a single front tooth are a dental implant with a crown, an adhesive (Maryland) bridge, a conventional bridge and a removable partial denture. An implant is usually the most natural long-term choice when there is enough bone and the neighbouring teeth are healthy. An adhesive bridge is a good conservative option when the bite allows it. A conventional bridge suits cases where the teeth either side already need crowns. A partial denture is the simplest and often a temporary solution.
Replacing a single front tooth is one of the most personal decisions in dentistry. A missing front tooth is visible every time you smile, speak or laugh, and it can knock your confidence quickly. It may have been lost to an accident, a failed root canal, a crack, or gum disease. Whatever the reason, the question is the same: what should go in the gap?
There are four proven options. Each has its place. This guide compares them honestly so that you can talk to a dentist with a clear idea of what matters to you.
What matters most with a front tooth
A front tooth is judged differently from a back tooth. Chewing strength is less important. What counts most is:
- Appearance. The colour, shape and translucency must match the tooth next to it. The gum line around it matters just as much.
- Speech. Front teeth shape sounds like “s,” “f” and “th.” A bulky replacement can change how you speak.
- The neighbouring teeth. Are they healthy and untouched, or already heavily filled or crowned?
- Bone and gum. After a front tooth is lost, the thin bone at the front of the jaw can shrink quickly, which affects how natural the result looks.
- Your bite. How your lower teeth meet the back of your upper front teeth affects which options are suitable.
Option 1: a dental implant with a crown
An implant is a small titanium post placed in the jaw bone where the root used to be. Once the bone has healed around it, a crown is fixed on top. The Oral Health Foundation describes implants as a long-term alternative to bridges and dentures.
Why people choose it: the neighbouring teeth are left completely untouched. The implant stands on its own, you clean around it like a natural tooth, and it helps preserve bone at that site. For a younger patient with healthy teeth either side, it is often the most conservative long-term choice.
What to consider: it needs enough bone in both height and width. Front tooth bone is thin, and if the tooth has been missing for a while, a bone graft may be needed. Implant treatment also takes two trips to Antalya, usually three to six months apart: the implant is placed on the first trip (four hotel nights included), and the final crown is fitted on the second (five hotel nights). In between, you wear a temporary tooth so you are not left with a visible gap.
Our published price is £300 per implant, the same for MegaGen, Neodent or Straumann, and £450 for an implant with a zirconia crown. Bone grafting, if needed, is £150 per 1cc. You receive an implant passport and copies of your X-rays and scans.
Option 2: an adhesive (Maryland) bridge
An adhesive bridge, often called a Maryland bridge, is a false tooth with a thin wing on one or both sides. The wing is bonded to the back of the neighbouring tooth, out of sight. Little or no drilling is needed.
Why people choose it: it is fixed, it is very kind to the neighbouring teeth, and it can be made in a single trip. It suits people who do not want surgery, who do not have enough bone for an implant, or who are not yet ready to commit to one.
What to consider: it relies on the bond, and adhesive bridges can come unstuck. They usually need re-bonding rather than replacement when that happens. They work best when the neighbouring tooth is sound, has enough enamel for bonding, and the bite is not too deep or heavy at the front. If your lower teeth bite hard against the back of your upper front teeth, or you grind, there may not be room for the wing or it may debond more often.
Option 3: a conventional bridge
A conventional bridge crowns the teeth on each side of the gap and joins a false tooth between them. The whole unit is cemented in place. The Oral Health Foundation describes bridges as a common way to replace missing teeth when the neighbouring teeth are strong enough to support them.
Why people choose it: it is fixed, strong and can usually be completed in one trip of about five to seven days. If the neighbouring teeth already have large fillings, discoloured old crowns or damage, crowning them is no loss, and the bridge improves them at the same time.
What to consider: if the neighbouring teeth are healthy, cutting them down for crowns is an irreversible step. We prefer to save a healthy tooth rather than crown it, so we are cautious about bridges on untouched teeth. You also need to clean under the false tooth every day with floss threaders or interdental brushes.
Option 4: a removable partial denture
A partial denture is a removable plate carrying a false tooth. It may be acrylic or have a thin metal frame, and it is held by clasps or by fitting closely to the palate and teeth. The NHS describes partial dentures as an option to fill gaps when one or more teeth are missing.
Why people choose it: it is the simplest, quickest option. It involves no surgery and no drilling. It is often used as a temporary tooth while an implant heals, or while someone decides what they want long term.
What to consider: it is removable, which some people dislike, and it covers part of the palate, which can affect taste and speech at first. It must be taken out for cleaning. Clasps can sometimes show. As a permanent solution for a single front tooth, many people find it less satisfying than the fixed options. See our dentures page for more on removable options.
The four options side by side
| Implant and crown | Adhesive bridge | Conventional bridge | Partial denture | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed or removable | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed | Removable |
| Neighbouring teeth | Untouched | Little or no drilling | Crowned | Clasped or untouched |
| Surgery | Yes | No | No | No |
| Trips to Antalya | Two | One | One | One |
| Bone needed | Yes, may need a graft | No | No | No |
| Main weak point | Bone and gum at the front | Bond can fail | Neighbours are cut down | Comfort and appearance |
How we decide with you
It starts with a photo of your smile and a recent X-ray, sent by WhatsApp or through the form. A dentist reviews them and sends you a preliminary written plan with the options that suit your case and an itemised price. There is no payment needed to get the plan.
On your first day in Antalya we take a 3D CBCT scan. For a front tooth this is particularly important, because it shows how thick the bone is at the front of the jaw and whether an implant can be placed in a good position. We also use digital smile design to plan the shape and length of the new tooth so that it matches its neighbours. The final plan is confirmed in writing before treatment begins.
Matching one front tooth to its neighbour is one of the hardest tasks in cosmetic dentistry. Colour, shape and gum level all need to line up, so we plan it carefully rather than quickly.
Matching the shade
A single new front tooth must match the teeth beside it, not the other way round. If you are considering teeth whitening, do it before the new crown is made. Whitening does not change the colour of crowns, so whitening afterwards would leave the new tooth looking darker than its neighbours. E-max is often chosen for front crowns because of its translucency; our price is £225 per crown. Zirconia is also used, especially where strength matters more. You can read more on our crowns page.
Guarantee
We provide a written guarantee. Implants with their abutment carry a lifetime guarantee, and a failed implant is replaced once free of charge. Crowns and bridges carry a five-year guarantee. The guarantee can be reduced if hygiene is neglected or check-ups are missed, and it does not cover accident or sports damage. Full terms are on our guarantee page.
Get a written plan for your front tooth
If you have lost a front tooth, or one is failing, send us a smile photo and a recent X-ray. A dentist will tell you in writing which of these options suits you, and why. Use the contact form or send a message on WhatsApp and one of our English-speaking coordinators will reply.
Common questions
What is a Maryland bridge?
An adhesive bridge, often called a Maryland bridge, is a false tooth with a thin wing that is bonded to the back of the neighbouring tooth. Little or no drilling of the neighbouring tooth is needed.
Will I be without a tooth while an implant heals?
No. A temporary tooth is provided while the implant heals, so you do not go home with a gap at the front. The type of temporary depends on your case.
Is an implant or a bridge better for a front tooth?
If the teeth either side are healthy and there is enough bone, an implant avoids cutting down those teeth. If the neighbours already have large fillings or crowns, a bridge may be the more sensible choice.
How much does it cost to replace a front tooth in Turkey?
At our clinic, an implant with a zirconia crown is £450. An E-max crown, often used at the front, is £225 per unit. Bone grafting, if needed, is £150 per 1cc. Your written plan shows the exact items.
Can a front tooth implant look natural?
Yes, when there is enough bone and gum to support it and the crown is shaded to match the neighbouring teeth. Bone loss at the front can make this harder, which is why the 3D scan matters.
Sources
- Oral Health Foundation: Dental implants
- Oral Health Foundation: Bridges
- NHS: Dentures
- Oral Health Foundation: Crowns
Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.
Get your treatment plan and price in writing
Send a few photos of your teeth or a recent X-ray. One of our dentists looks at it and you get an itemised plan before you book anything.