A single tooth denture, often called a flipper, is a removable plastic tooth that clips into place. It is the cheapest and fastest way to fill a gap, and it is designed as a temporary measure rather than a permanent one. The permanent options are a bridge or an implant.
Here is the comparison that matters if you are in the UK: a single tooth denture costs around GBP 695 to GBP 895 there, while a single tooth implant in Antalya costs GBP 400 to GBP 1,000. A temporary solution at home can cost the same as a permanent one here.
This page sets out all five options, what each costs, how long each lasts, and which situations each one actually suits.
A single missing tooth is actually rather common and easy to fix, so there's no need to fret if you're in this situation. Dentists usually recommend several different methods in such cases, the most practical and cost-effective of which is the single-tooth removable prosthesis known as a "flipper".
This prosthesis consists of a single artificial tooth placed on a light gum-coloured base and held in place by tiny hooks that attach to the other teeth in the mouth. You can use it for a short while or keep it for a long time. The space of the missing tooth affects not only the appearance but also the chewing function. Moreover, over time, it can cause neighboring teeth to shift, gingival recession, and jawbone resorption. Therefore, it is very important not to allow even a single tooth to remain missing for a long time to protect oral health.
Single-tooth denture options
When a single tooth is missing, there are several different types of prosthesis available:
Crown with implant support:
It is the most durable and permanent solution. Instead of the tooth root, a porcelain tooth is attached to the implant screwed into the jawbone. It requires a surgical procedure and recovery time, and its cost is high, but it gives results indistinguishable from natural teeth.
Fixed bridge:
A fixed bridge is a long-term solution for replacing a missing tooth. It involves permanently attaching a false tooth to the middle of the bridge and crowning the healthy teeth on either side of the gap. As cutting is required, the neighboring teeth are treated. It does not shield the bone, despite being strong and fixed in the mouth.
Partial denture with metal frame (cobalt-chrome):
These are prostheses with a thin cast metal frame. The hook tips are sometimes visible from the outside, but they provide a very strong fit. They have a longer lifespan (5-10 years or more) and are highly stable in the mouth. The laboratory period is slightly longer, and the cost is higher.
Flexible thermoplastic prosthesis:
Constructed from a specialized biocompatible plastic, it can feature a complete pink hue with transparent edges, eliminating the need for metal clips. Because it is flexible, the mouth fit is comfortable, and the risk of breakage is lower than with acrylic. Because the clips are so small, they don't detract from the aesthetic.
Acrylic (temporary) partial denture (flipper):
The most common and most economical option. It consists of a tooth attached to a pink acrylic base. It is quickly prepared and usually delivered in a few days. Despite its short lifespan (approximately one to three years), cheap cost, and lack of surgical requirement, it is a great option.
Through consultation and testing at your clinic, your doctor will ascertain which of these choices is best for you. In most cases, a permanent implant is the way to go. However, if that isn't possible, other options, like acrylic or a flexible prosthesis, may be more convenient or more affordable.
The Five Options Side by Side
| Option | Fixed or removable | Typical lifespan | Cost in Antalya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic flipper | Removable | Months, temporary by design | Quote at consultation |
| Metal frame partial | Removable | 5 to 10 years | Quote at consultation |
| Flexible thermoplastic | Removable | 3 to 5 years | Quote at consultation |
| Fixed bridge (3 crowns) | Fixed | 10 to 15 years | from about GBP 450 |
| Implant with crown | Fixed | 20 years or more | GBP 400 to GBP 1,000 |
For comparison, the same single tooth implant costs GBP 1,000 to GBP 3,500 in the UK and Europe. Bridge pricing follows crown pricing, and our dental crowns page lists those by material.
Removable denture pricing depends on the material and the number of clasps, so we quote it after an examination rather than publishing a range that may not apply to your mouth.
How much is a denture for a single tooth?
The price of a single denture varies greatly depending on the type of denture chosen, the material and the country. In a nutshell, here is how much they cost:
- UK: Acrylic unifacial partial dentures start at around GBP 695, while partial dentures with a more durable metal base start at around GBP 895. (In London clinics, acrylic partial dentures cost around £695 and metal supported dentures around £895).
- Germany: Prices for single dentures are usually between 300-2000 EUR. This wide range depends on the material of the prosthesis (acrylic, metal, flexible, etc.), laboratory fees and doctor/patient location.
- USA: Single-tooth removable prostheses (flipper teeth) usually cost between 500-1500 USD.
- Turkey: The same high-quality materials and techniques are used in Turkey as in other leading countries. However, due to lower operational and laboratory costs, single dentures typically cost between $200-$350 , making it an affordable option without compromising on quality.
Which Option Suits Your Situation
A flipper makes sense when
- You have just lost a front tooth and need something today
- You are healing after an extraction and waiting for an implant
- Cost is the deciding factor right now
It is not built for long term chewing, and wearing one for years tends to end badly, because the bone underneath keeps shrinking while nothing replaces the root.
A bridge makes sense when
- The teeth either side already need crowns anyway
- There is not enough bone for an implant and you do not want grafting
- You want a fixed result without surgery
The trade off is real: two healthy neighbouring teeth are reduced to hold the bridge. If those teeth are untouched, that is a high price for filling one gap.
An implant makes sense when
- The neighbouring teeth are healthy and you want to keep them that way
- You have enough bone, or are willing to have grafting
- You want the option that lasts longest
An implant is the only choice that replaces the root as well as the crown, which is why it is the only one that stops the bone loss that follows a missing tooth. Our missing tooth options page compares all of them in more detail.
Why Leaving the Gap Is the Expensive Option
The jawbone around a tooth exists because the root stimulates it. Remove the root and the body starts reabsorbing that bone, fastest in the first year. This happens whether or not you wear a denture, because a denture rests on the gum and does not load the bone.
Two things follow. The neighbouring teeth begin to tilt into the space and the opposing tooth drifts down towards it, which changes your bite. And if you decide on an implant years later, there may no longer be enough bone to place one without grafting first.
This is the honest argument against waiting. A gap left for five years often turns a straightforward implant into an implant plus a graft, which costs more and adds months to the treatment.
Single Tooth Denture: Frequently Asked Questions
The questions patients ask us most about replacing one tooth.
Most often a flipper, or more formally an acrylic partial denture. It is a removable plate carrying one replacement tooth, held by small clasps that rest on the neighbouring teeth. Dentists also use the terms temporary partial denture and single unit partial. All describe the same thing: a removable, usually short term solution for one missing tooth.
Three things hold it. Small metal or clear clasps grip the adjacent teeth, the plate rests against the palate or the gum ridge for support, and suction from saliva helps keep it seated. It is not fixed, so it moves slightly when you eat and comes out for cleaning. A well made one is stable, but it will never feel like a natural tooth.
A single artificial tooth attached to a thin pink or clear plastic base, with small clasps that hook around the teeth either side. From the front, only the replacement tooth shows if the shade and shape are matched well. From inside the mouth the plate and clasps are visible, which is why some patients find them noticeable when talking.
In the UK an acrylic partial starts around GBP 695 and a metal based one around GBP 895. In Germany the range is roughly EUR 300 to EUR 2,000 depending on material. In Antalya we quote removable dentures after an examination, because the price depends on the material and the number of clasps. For context, a permanent single tooth implant here is GBP 400 to GBP 1,000.
Yes, but with adjustments. Start with soft food cut small, chew on both sides to spread the load, and avoid very hard or sticky items that can dislodge or fracture the plate. Most people adapt within a couple of weeks. A flipper is not designed for heavy chewing, so if eating is your main concern a bridge or implant is the better answer.
An implant is better in every respect except immediate cost and treatment time. It is fixed, lasts decades, does not touch the neighbouring teeth and preserves the bone. A denture is cheaper today and can be made in days. The comparison that surprises UK patients is that a denture at home often costs what a permanent implant costs in Antalya.
Yes. A single unit partial denture is a routine appliance and can be made for any position in the mouth, front or back. Front teeth are the most common request because the gap is visible. The question worth asking is not whether it can be made, but whether it should be the long term plan or a bridge to a permanent solution.
An acrylic flipper is a temporary appliance and usually needs replacing within a year or two, sooner if the gum shrinks underneath it. A metal framed partial lasts five to ten years, and a flexible thermoplastic one three to five. All removable options need adjusting over time as the ridge changes shape beneath them.
It is the same appliance described another way. The clips are the clasps that grip the adjacent teeth and hold the plate in position. Some are metal and visible, others are clear or tooth coloured and far less noticeable. Clear clasps look better but are generally less durable, which is the trade off you are choosing between.
Sources:
1- Evaluation of a one-piece ceramic implant used for single-tooth replacement and three-unit fixed partial dentures: a prospective cohort clinical trial Ronald E. Jung, Philipp Grohmann, Irena Sailer, Yann-Niclas Steinhart, Aurel Fehér, Christoph Hämmerle, Jörg Rudolf Strub, Ralf Kohal First published: 27 July 2015 https://doi.org/10.1111/clr.12670
Dt. Dilek Aksu Güler
Cosmetic Dentist, Dental Implant Specialist
Dt. Dilek Aksu Güler specializes in implantology, digital smile design and cosmetic dentistry. She is the founding dentist of Antlara Dental Oral and Dental Health Clinic.