The short answer
There are three ways to replace a missing tooth. A denture (pustiso) is removable. A bridge is fixed in place and held by the teeth on either side of the gap. A dental implant replaces the root with a small post and carries its own crown. Which one suits you depends on your mouth, your bone and your health, and the dentist explains all three for your case.
Side by side
Denture (pustiso)
- What it is
- A removable piece that replaces one, several or all teeth in an arch
- Fixed or removable
- Removable; taken out for cleaning
- The teeth beside the gap
- A partial denture clips in beside them
- How long it takes
- About 2 to 5 visits, depending on the case
- Good to know
- Sore spots in the first weeks are common, and adjustments are part of the treatment
Bridge
- What it is
- A replacement tooth joined to crowns on the teeth either side of the gap
- Fixed or removable
- Fixed; cemented in place
- The teeth beside the gap
- Shaped to hold the bridge; that cannot be undone
- How long it takes
- About 2 to 5 visits, depending on the case, with a temporary bridge for about 1 to 2 weeks
- Good to know
- Needs cleaning underneath; we show you how
Dental implant
- What it is
- A small post in place of the root, with a crown on top
- Fixed or removable
- Fixed; the crown sits on the post
- The teeth beside the gap
- Not shaped; the implant stands on its own
- How long it takes
- About 3 to 6 months from post to crown, mostly healing time
- Good to know
- For adults with enough healthy bone; some people need a bone graft first
| Denture (pustiso) | Bridge | Dental implant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A removable piece that replaces one, several or all teeth in an arch | A replacement tooth joined to crowns on the teeth either side of the gap | A small post in place of the root, with a crown on top |
| Fixed or removable | Removable; taken out for cleaning | Fixed; cemented in place | Fixed; the crown sits on the post |
| The teeth beside the gap | A partial denture clips in beside them | Shaped to hold the bridge; that cannot be undone | Not shaped; the implant stands on its own |
| How long it takes | About 2 to 5 visits, depending on the case | About 2 to 5 visits, depending on the case, with a temporary bridge for about 1 to 2 weeks | About 3 to 6 months from post to crown, mostly healing time |
| Good to know | Sore spots in the first weeks are common, and adjustments are part of the treatment | Needs cleaning underneath; we show you how | For adults with enough healthy bone; some people need a bone graft first |
Pustiso (denture)
A partial denture replaces some teeth and clips in beside your natural ones. A complete denture replaces all the teeth in an arch. Both are removable, so you take them out for cleaning.
Making one takes about two to five visits, depending on the case. They cover a record of your mouth, a bite record, a try-in, the fitting and an adjustment. A new denture can rub in places during the first weeks. That is normal: you come back and we adjust it.
Bridge
A bridge fills the gap with a replacement tooth held by the teeth on either side, which are shaped to support it. It is cemented in place, so you do not take it out.
It takes about two to five visits, depending on the case. The shaped teeth are recorded with a digital scanner instead of impression putty, and you wear a temporary bridge for about one to two weeks while the final one is made. Because the neighbouring teeth are shaped and that cannot be undone, the dentist also explains the other two options before you decide.
Dental implant
An implant replaces the missing root with a small post, and a crown is fitted on top once the bone has healed around it. A digital scan and a panoramic X-ray come first, to check there is enough healthy bone and to plan where the post goes. Some people need a bone graft before the implant.
The post is placed under local anaesthetic while you are awake; you feel pressure, not sharp pain. Soreness and some swelling for a few days afterwards are normal. You can wear a temporary tooth while you heal, and from post to crown usually takes about three to six months.
Implants are for adults with enough healthy bone. Some health conditions and smoking can affect healing, so the dentist asks about your health first.
Alin ang para sa akin?
It depends on things only an examination can show: how many teeth are missing and where, the health of the teeth beside the gap, how much bone there is, and your general health. It also depends on what matters to you, such as whether you would rather have something fixed or something you can take out.
At your consultation the dentist explains which options suit your mouth, what each involves and the cost of each, before anything starts.
Kailangan bang palitan agad?
Not always straight away, but it is worth asking. Over time, teeth next to a gap can tilt or drift into the space, which can make replacing the tooth later more involved. The dentist can tell you what the gap means for your own teeth.
Questions worth asking at your consultation
- Which of the three options suit my mouth, and why?
- Will any healthy teeth need to be shaped?
- For an implant: is there enough bone, or will I need a graft first?
- How many visits will it take, and what happens between them?
- How do I look after it, and what does the estimate cover?
General information from the Citismiles dental team, not advice for your own teeth. Every case is different; the dentist explains what suits you at your consultation.