How to replace a missing tooth — safely, for now

We wouldn’t recommend replacing a missing tooth yourself. Home kits and glue-in teeth can damage the gum and neighbouring teeth, and a poor fit traps food and bacteria. A temporary tooth made by a dentist is safer: at Toothi in Edgware a removable partial denture starts from £595. It fills the gap while you decide on a long-term fix such as an implant or a bridge.

You can buy kits online that promise a temporary tooth made from mouldable plastic beads, or clip-on veneers. We get the appeal, especially for a front tooth. But they aren’t made for your mouth, and they can cause problems.

• ✓  Poor fit. A tooth that isn’t shaped to your bite can press on the gum, rub the neighbouring teeth and make chewing uncomfortable.
• ✓  Trapped food and bacteria. Gaps around a home-made tooth collect plaque, raising the risk of gum inflammation and decay next door.
• ✓  Glue and adhesives. Household or nail glue should never go in your mouth. It can damage the tissue and is very hard to get off safely.
• ✓  Hidden problems. A missing or broken tooth often has a cause, such as infection or a cracked root, that needs a dentist to look at it.

If a tooth has just been knocked out or broken, call us as an emergency. An emergency appointment at Toothi is £65.

This is the gap people most want filled quickly. We can make a temporary tooth that looks natural at normal talking distance while you plan the permanent fix.

Which option suits you depends on the gap, your bite, the health of the neighbouring teeth and your long-term plan. We’ll talk you through it at an examination. If it’s a front tooth and you’re thinking about an implant, our front tooth implant guide explains how we approach the aesthetics.

A temporary tooth made by a dentist is the most reliable way to hide a gap. Until then, a few simple things help without putting your teeth at risk.

• ✓  Book an appointment early. The sooner we see you, the sooner a temporary tooth can be made.
• ✓  Keep the area clean. Brush gently around the gap and keep the gum healthy, which also helps any future treatment.
• ✓  Avoid DIY fillers and glue. They usually make the job harder for us later.
• ✓  Ask about timing. If you have a wedding, interview or holiday coming up, tell us so we can plan around it where possible.

A temporary removable partial denture starts from £595. For a long-term replacement, a bridge is from £595 per unit and a single implant including the crown is £1,995.

Prices are fixed and taken from our fees page.

The three long-term options are a dental implant, a bridge or a denture. Each has trade-offs: cost, how long it lasts, and what it means for the teeth either side. Our guide to implants vs dentures vs bridges compares them side by side, and our overview of missing tooth replacement options sets out every choice with Toothi’s fees.

If an implant appeals, our implant consultation page explains what happens at the free first visit, and our main dental implants in Edgware page covers the treatment in full.