Both replace a missing tooth. One is cheaper today; the other is usually cheaper over twenty years. Here's how to decide.
When a tooth is lost, the two main ways to replace it permanently are a dental implant and a fixed bridge. They look similar from the outside — a natural-looking porcelain tooth — but they work in completely different ways, and the right choice depends on the teeth next door, your bone, your budget and your timeline.
How a bridge works
A bridge 'bridges' the gap by crowning the tooth on either side and suspending a false tooth between them. It's fixed, it's quick — usually two visits over a couple of weeks — and it costs less up front, typically $3,000–$5,000 on the Gold Coast. The catch is that the two neighbouring teeth have to be ground down to take crowns, even if they're perfectly healthy, and a bridge usually needs replacing after 10–15 years.
How an implant works
An implant is a titanium post placed in the jawbone where the root used to be, with a crown on top. It stands alone, so the neighbouring teeth are untouched, and because it stimulates the bone it prevents the shrinkage that happens under a bridge. Treatment takes three to six months while the bone heals around the post, and costs more up front — typically $3,500–$6,500 per tooth. With good care, an implant can last decades.
So which should you choose?
If the neighbouring teeth already have large fillings or crowns, a bridge makes good use of them and is hard to beat on value. If they're healthy, an implant protects them and is usually the better long-term investment. Where bone has been lost, a graft may be needed before an implant, which adds time and cost — sometimes tipping the balance back towards a bridge. At Surfers Dental Centre implants are placed in-house, so you get one team, one quote and no specialist referral. Book a consultation and we'll show you both options on your own X-rays.
Related treatment
Dental Implants