Dental implant vs bridge

An implant replaces one tooth on its own post; a bridge fills the gap with a false tooth held by crowns on the two teeth beside it.

All costs for one implant

$3,000 to $6,000 per tooth

A three-unit bridge

$2,600 to $5,450 per bridge

How long a bridge lasts

Published range: 5 to 15 years

Aspen Dental (pulled November 1, 2026) provides the published ranges. Using each midpoint and expected lifespan, one implant averages about $180 yearly ($4,500 over 25 years). A three-unit bridge averages about $403 yearly ($4,025 over 10 years).