Clinical content reviewed by Dr. Ash Kler, DDS ·
Lose a tooth and three roads open. Each has honest advantages; each has a catch. Here is the comparison we walk patients through, minus the sales pitch.
A titanium root fused into your jawbone, topped with a porcelain crown. The case for it: Standalone, no neighbouring teeth touched. Preserves jawbone, which shrinks under any missing tooth. Chews like the original. Routinely lasts 20+ years, with success rates above 95%. The catch: Highest upfront cost ($4,000–$6,500 typical in BC for a single tooth, all-in), a healing timeline measured in months, and a minor surgical procedure, gentler than its reputation, but surgery nonetheless. Best for: Most healthy patients thinking in decades. Per year of service, it is usually the cheapest option on this list.
A porcelain restoration spanning the gap, anchored by crowns on the neighbouring teeth. The case for it: No surgery, faster timeline (weeks, not months), fixed in place, and excellent value when the neighbouring teeth already need crowns anyway. The catch: Those neighbours get shaped for crowns whether they needed it or not, the bone under the gap still shrinks slowly, and cleaning beneath the bridge is a daily habit you must actually keep. Typical lifespan: 10–15 years. Best for: Patients avoiding surgery, on faster timelines, or with already-compromised neighbouring teeth.
The case for it: The most economical way to replace one tooth or many, no surgery, and modern versions look far better than their reputation. The catch: Removable means removable, less chewing power, an adjustment period, nightly cleaning, and relines over the years as bone slowly changes beneath it. The upgrade worth knowing: Two to four implants can anchor a denture, transforming stability and chewing power. For lower dentures especially, patients call it life-changing.
A missing tooth is not a stable situation. Neighbours drift, the opposing tooth over-erupts, chewing overloads shift elsewhere, and bone quietly disappears, making every future fix harder and costlier. "Wait and see" has a price tag too; it is just deferred.
Bone quality (assessed with 3D imaging), health, budget, and timeline all weigh in, and the right answer differs by patient and even by tooth. Get all three options priced and explained side by side, then choose. That consultation is exactly what we do.
Missing a tooth? See your options with your own eyes: (250) 372-2326.
Have questions about your own smile? Call (250) 372-2326 or request an appointment.