How Much Does a Dental Bridge Cost?
What a unit is, the price of each kind of bridge, worked examples for one and two missing teeth, what can add to the bill, the NHS, and how a bridge compares with an implant over the years.
What Does a Dental Bridge Cost per Tooth, and for One or Two Missing Teeth?
A dental bridge at Hamilton Smile Studios is priced per unit, meaning per tooth in the bridge: £675 for a winged (resin-bonded) bridge fitted on the day a tooth comes out, £750 for a definitive winged bridge and £695 for a conventional fixed bridge. One missing front tooth on a winged bridge is often a single unit; one missing back tooth on a conventional bridge is usually three. Your written plan gives the total before anything starts.
The Short Answer, per Unit
| Bridge | Per unit | Plan members |
|---|---|---|
| Winged (resin-bonded) bridge, fitted on extraction day | £675 | £608 |
| Winged (resin-bonded) bridge, definitive | £750 | £675 |
| Conventional fixed bridge | £695 | £626 |
| Long-term temporary bridge | from £450 | from £405 |
Every price comes from our published fee list. 1 The total for your bridge is the per-unit fee multiplied by the number of units, and it is set out in writing after an examination, before any tooth is prepared.
What "per Unit" Means
A unit is one tooth in the bridge, and it counts whether it is the false tooth filling the gap or a tooth holding the bridge up. A winged bridge for one front tooth is often a single unit: the false tooth with a thin wing bonded behind its neighbour. A conventional bridge for one missing molar is normally three units, a crown on each side with the false tooth between them.
That is why two quotes for "a bridge" can look so different. Our dental bridges page shows the designs side by side.
Find Out What Your Gap Would Cost
Book an examination and we'll price each option for you in writing.
Prices by Type of Bridge
- Winged bridge on extraction day, £675 a unit. Fitted when a front tooth comes out, so you don't leave with a gap. It may be replaced by a definitive bridge once the gum has healed.
- Definitive winged bridge, £750 a unit. Needs little or no drilling of the neighbouring tooth, which is why it is usually the first choice for a single front tooth when the bite allows.
- Conventional fixed bridge, £695 a unit. The teeth either side are crowned and carry the false tooth. Stronger under heavy chewing, so it suits back teeth, but the supporting teeth lose enamel to the crowns.
- Long-term temporary bridge, from £450. Worn for months while an implant heals or while you decide what to do.
Worked Examples
These are examples only. Your own design, and so your fee, is decided after an examination and X-rays.
| Situation | Usual design | Units | Example total |
|---|---|---|---|
| One missing front tooth | Definitive winged bridge | 1 | £750 |
| One missing back tooth | Conventional bridge | 3 | £2,085 |
| Two missing teeth side by side | Conventional bridge | 4 | £2,780 |
A winged bridge bonded to teeth on both sides of the gap counts as two units. If an anchor tooth already has a large filling or a crown, a conventional bridge often makes more sense than it would on untouched teeth.
What Can Add to the Cost
The bridge fee covers the bridge itself. Some mouths need work first, and anything extra is priced in the same written plan:
- X-rays of the supporting teeth, from £10 each
- A core build-up on an anchor tooth that has lost a lot of structure, £350
- Root canal treatment on an anchor tooth, from £450
- Treatment for gum disease before the bridge is made, because healthy gums around the supports are what keep it
Every item is on our price list. 1
Bridges on the NHS in Scotland
When a bridge is clinically necessary, it can be provided on the NHS for patients registered with an NHS practice. Adults who pay NHS charges pay 80% of the NHS fee, never more than £384 for a course of treatment, and under-26s pay nothing. A design or material chosen mainly for appearance is private.
We are registering new NHS patients, and you can be on our NHS list and still choose a private bridge. Our guide to NHS and private dentistry explains the charges.
Bridge, Implant or Denture Over the Long Run
A well-kept bridge often lasts ten to fifteen years. Its weak point is rarely the false tooth; it is decay or gum disease on the teeth holding it up. An implant, from £2,605 with its crown, stands on its own and leaves the neighbouring teeth alone, but needs minor surgery and a few months of healing. A partial denture costs least at the start and comes out for cleaning.
Our guide to replacing one missing tooth compares all three, and our dental implants page sets out the implant fees.
Paying for a Bridge
Dental plan members pay 10% less on bridges. Treatment from £1,500 to £50,000 can also be spread through Chrysalis Finance, subject to status: interest-free (0% APR) over 6 or 10 months (3 months also on amounts up to £2,500), or at 14.9% APR over 24, 36 or 60 months, with no deposit. As an example, a three-unit conventional bridge at £2,085 is £208.50 a month over 10 months at 0% APR. 2 The finance page has the calculator and the representative example.
Questions
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. A dentist needs to examine you to say what is right for your teeth.