Lose a single tooth and you have three real options: replace it with a dental implant, bridge the gap using the neighbouring teeth, or leave it empty. An implant is usually the healthiest long-term choice because it replaces the root and stops bone loss, but it isn’t the only answer. At The Smile Gallery in East Grinstead, Dr Rahul Nehra talks every patient through all three honestly.

Because the right choice isn’t always the most expensive one. Let’s compare them properly.

What happens if you leave the gap

It’s tempting to do nothing, especially if the gap is towards the back and nobody sees it. But teeth don’t stay still around an empty space.

The teeth either side begin to tilt into the gap. The tooth above or below, with nothing to bite against, slowly drifts out of its socket. Your bite shifts, food starts trapping in new places, and cleaning gets harder. Underneath, the jawbone that once held the root has no job to do, so it gradually shrinks, a process called resorption.

None of this is dramatic week to week. Over years, it adds up, and it can turn a simple single-tooth problem into a more involved one. That’s the case against doing nothing.

Implant versus bridge, side by side

The two active treatments work very differently. A bridge sits on top of the gum, anchored to the teeth on either side. An implant is a titanium post placed into the jawbone, acting as a new root, with a crown fixed on top.

Why the minimally invasive case favours an implant

Here’s a detail that surprises people. A bridge often sounds like the gentler option because there’s no surgery. In practice it can be the more destructive one.

To fit a traditional bridge, the healthy teeth on either side of the gap are filed down to take the supporting crowns. Two sound teeth get permanently altered to fix a problem they didn’t cause. An implant touches neither of them.

That sits at the heart of how The Smile Gallery works. Both co-founders, Dr Rahul Nehra and Dr Aak Nehra, follow a minimally invasive philosophy: preserve natural tooth structure wherever possible, do as little as the result genuinely requires. For a single missing tooth between two healthy neighbours, an implant is frequently the option that leaves the most of your own mouth intact.

Dr Nehra is the practice’s implant surgeon, with a postgraduate certificate in dental implants, and planning is done using the practice’s CT scanner so the post is placed precisely where the bone can hold it.

When a bridge is still the better call

This isn’t a sales pitch for implants regardless. There are real situations where a bridge wins.

If the teeth either side of the gap already need crowns anyway, the bridge isn’t sacrificing healthy tooth, because that tooth was going to be treated regardless. If your jawbone is too thin for an implant and you’d rather avoid a bone graft, a bridge sidesteps that. And a bridge is usually quicker and cheaper upfront, which genuinely matters to some people.

As of June 2026, Dr Nehra’s standing advice is the same one The Smile Gallery built its reputation on across East Grinstead, Crawley and Haywards Heath: the best option is the one that’s right for your mouth and your circumstances, not the one with the biggest fee.

What the options cost in the UK

Broad UK ranges help you plan, even though your exact figure depends on your case.

• A single dental implant with crown generally runs from around £2,000 to £3,500.
• A traditional bridge typically costs around £500 to £1,000 per unit, so often less upfront.
• Leaving the gap costs nothing now, but future treatment for drifted teeth or bone loss can cost considerably more.

The Smile Gallery confirms your fee after Dr Nehra has assessed the site and reviewed your CT scan. You can read the detail on the dental implant costs page and explore the wider single implants option. Finance is available to spread the cost.

How the decision actually gets made at your assessment

It helps to know what choosing between these options looks like in practice, because the right answer comes from your own mouth rather than a general rule. At The Smile Gallery, the starting point is a proper look at the site of the missing tooth and the teeth around it.

Dr Rahul Nehra checks the condition of the neighbouring teeth first. If they are healthy and untouched, that weighs towards an implant, since filing them down for a bridge would mean damaging sound teeth for no other reason. If one or both already carry large fillings or need crowns anyway, a bridge starts to make more sense, because the supporting work is happening regardless.

The next question is what lies beneath the gum. This is where the practice’s CT scanner matters. A standard photograph cannot show how much bone is left to hold an implant, and bone quietly shrinks after a tooth is lost. The scan shows the height and width of bone in three dimensions, so Dr Nehra can see whether there is enough to place a post securely, whether a graft might be needed first, and exactly where nerves and the sinus sit. Planning the position before any treatment begins is what keeps the procedure precise and predictable.

Your own circumstances come into it too. How soon you want the gap filled, whether you would rather avoid surgery, how you feel about the upfront cost against the long-term picture, and how easily you will keep the result clean all shape the conversation. None of this is rushed, and there is no pressure towards the pricier route.

By the end of the appointment you should understand why one option suits your mouth better than the others, what it involves, roughly what it costs, and what doing nothing would mean over the coming years. That clarity is the point. A single missing tooth is a decision worth making once and making well, rather than something to guess at.

FAQ

Is a single implant better than a bridge?

For most healthy patients, yes. An implant replaces the tooth root, protects the jawbone from shrinking, and leaves the neighbouring teeth untouched, whereas a bridge requires filing down two healthy teeth. A bridge can still be the better choice if those teeth already need crowns or your jawbone is unsuitable. Dr Rahul Nehra advises based on your specific mouth.

Does getting a dental implant hurt?

The placement is done under local anaesthetic, so you feel pressure rather than pain during the procedure itself. Most patients compare the recovery to a tooth extraction, with mild soreness for a few days managed by ordinary painkillers. The Smile Gallery also offers sedation for anxious patients, and Dr Nehra talks you through every step beforehand.

How long does a single implant last?

A well-placed, well-maintained implant can last fifteen years or more, and frequently decades. The titanium post itself often lasts a lifetime; the crown on top may need replacing eventually, much like a natural tooth’s restoration. Good brushing, flossing and regular check-ups at The Smile Gallery are what protect that longevity.

Can I just leave the gap if it doesn’t show?

You can, but it carries a cost over time. The neighbouring teeth tend to tilt into the space, the opposing tooth can drift, your bite shifts, and the jawbone beneath the gap gradually shrinks. What starts as one missing tooth can become a larger problem. Dr Nehra will explain the realistic risks for your particular gap.

How long does the whole implant process take?

From placement to the final crown usually takes a few months, because the implant needs time to fuse with the bone, a process called osseointegration. It isn’t months of discomfort; it’s mostly waiting between short appointments. Dr Rahul Nehra gives you a clear timeline at your consultation once he has seen your CT scan.

What to do next

If you’ve lost a tooth, or you’re weighing up a bridge against an implant, an honest assessment is the place to start. Dr Rahul Nehra will examine the site, review your options without pressure, and tell you which route genuinely suits your mouth.

Call The Smile Gallery in East Grinstead on 01342321094, or book an implant consultation directly. You can also explore the full range of dental implant treatments the practice offers.