Losing one tooth does not mean you need a full set of false teeth. A single tooth denture is a small removable plate that carries one replacement tooth, filling the gap without drilling, surgery or any damage to the healthy teeth on either side. It is the quickest and most affordable way to replace a missing tooth in the UK, and in most cases it can be made and fitted within a fortnight.
At The Mobile Denture Repair Company we have spent over 30 years making, fitting and repairing dentures across London and the South East, and we come to you. This guide covers what a single tooth denture is, how it holds, what you can expect to pay and how it compares with a bridge or an implant.
What Is a Single Tooth Denture?
A single tooth denture is the smallest version of a partial denture. It consists of one artificial tooth mounted on a slim base that sits against the roof of your mouth or along your gum line, shaped to the contours of your own mouth. You take it out to clean it and put it back in yourself, exactly as you would with any larger denture. The tooth is colour matched to those around it, so when it is made properly nobody should be able to tell which one is the replacement.
People also call it a one tooth denture, a single tooth plate or a front tooth denture, depending on where the gap sits. A dentist may refer to it as a removable partial denture, the clinical term for any denture replacing some rather than all of your teeth.
Single Tooth Denture and Flipper Tooth: What Is the Difference?
A flipper is essentially the same appliance made as a short term measure. Flippers are usually thin acrylic, made quickly and priced accordingly, and they are often fitted straight after an extraction while the gum settles. A permanent single tooth denture is built to closer tolerances from harder wearing materials and is designed to last years rather than months.
If you have just had a tooth taken out, a temporary appliance first and a definitive one later is often the sensible route, because your gum will change shape considerably during healing.
How Does a Single Tooth Denture Stay In?
This is the question we get asked most often, and it comes down to three things working together.
The base is moulded to the exact shape of your gum and palate, which creates gentle suction and friction. Small clasps then grip the natural teeth beside the gap, either as fine metal wires or, on flexible dentures, gum coloured clasps that are far less visible. Finally, the surrounding teeth act as walls that stop the plate sliding sideways.
A well made single tooth denture should hold firm for eating and speaking without adhesive. If you find yourself reaching for denture glue every morning, the fit has drifted and it needs looking at rather than propping up.
Types of Single Tooth Denture Available in the UK
There is no single best material. The right one depends on where the gap is, how many teeth surround it, how much you are willing to spend and how visible the fittings will be when you smile.
Acrylic Single Tooth Dentures
Acrylic is the traditional choice and the most widely used. It is a dental grade plastic that can be tinted to match your gums, it is straightforward to adjust and it is easy to repair or add to later if you lose another tooth. The base needs to be slightly thicker than metal for strength, so some people notice it more at first.
Acrylic is usually the most economical option and it is what most temporary and immediate appliances are made from.
Flexible Single Tooth Dentures
Flexible dentures are made from a soft nylon based thermoplastic. They flex slightly with the natural movement of your mouth, which many wearers find more comfortable, and the clasps blend into the gum rather than showing as silver hooks. That makes them a popular choice for front teeth where appearance matters most.
The trade off is that flexible materials are harder to adjust chairside and cannot always be relined in the same way as acrylic.
Cobalt Chrome Single Tooth Dentures
A chrome denture uses a cast metal framework, which allows the base to be far thinner and stronger than plastic. Less of your palate is covered, so your sense of taste and temperature is barely affected. Chrome is the most durable option and tends to keep its fit longest, though it costs more and the clasps can be visible depending on placement.
How Much Does a Single Tooth Denture Cost in the UK?
Cost depends on the material, the complexity of the design and whether you go through the NHS or privately.
NHS Single Tooth Denture Cost
On the NHS in England, dentures fall into Band 3, a fixed charge of £332.10 per course of treatment as of April 2026. That single charge covers the whole course, so it is the same whether you need one replacement tooth or a full set. Charges differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and around half of NHS dental patients are exempt. You can check current bands and exemptions on the NHS guide to dentures.
The catch, as most people have found, is availability. Waiting lists for NHS denture work are long across much of the South East.
Private Single Tooth Denture Cost
Private pricing varies by practice, material and location. As a broad guide across the UK, a simple acrylic single tooth denture generally falls somewhere between £200 and £450, a flexible one between £350 and £700, and a cobalt chrome design between £600 and £1,000. Temporary flippers sit at the lower end.
Those figures are indicative rather than a quote. The only way to know what your case will cost is to have someone look at the gap and the teeth around it, which is why we give free quotes before any work starts.
Is a Single Tooth Denture Better Than a Bridge or an Implant?
Each option solves the same problem differently, and none is universally better.
A denture is removable, needs no surgery, leaves your neighbouring teeth untouched and costs the least. The downsides are that you take it out to clean it and it needs adjusting as your gums change.
A bridge is fixed in place but requires the teeth either side to be reshaped, removing healthy enamel. An implant replaces the root as well as the crown and is the closest thing to a natural tooth, but it involves oral surgery, months of healing and by far the highest cost. The Oral Health Foundation publishes an independent overview of bridges and partial dentures if you want to compare further.
For many people, particularly those replacing a tooth quickly or working to a budget, a single tooth denture is the sensible starting point, and it rules nothing out later.
How a Single Tooth Denture Is Made and Fitted
The process is short and there is nothing uncomfortable about it.
We start by assessing the gap and the health of the surrounding teeth and gums, then discuss materials. Taking an impression of your mouth takes a couple of minutes. The shade of the replacement tooth is matched against your natural teeth in daylight where possible, because artificial lighting distorts colour.
The appliance is then made in the laboratory. At the fitting we check the bite, the clasp tension and how it feels when you speak, adjusting on the spot. Most people need one short review a fortnight later. Our guide on how dentures are fitted covers each stage in more detail.
Because we work as a mobile service, all of this can happen in your own front room, which removes the main obstacle for anyone with limited mobility or no easy transport.
Looking After Your Single Tooth Denture
Small dentures get lost and broken more often than large ones, simply because they are easy to wrap in a tissue and forget.
Brush it daily over a basin of water or a folded towel so it survives being dropped. Use a soft brush and a denture cleaner rather than ordinary toothpaste, which is abrasive enough to scratch the surface and dull the shine. Soak it overnight in a denture solution, and give the teeth either side extra attention, because clasps trap plaque exactly where you least want it.
Keep up your regular check ups too. The health of your remaining teeth is what holds the appliance in place.
When Your Single Tooth Denture Needs Repair or Relining
Gums and bone reshape gradually after a tooth is lost, so the fit of any denture changes over time. A plate that felt perfect a year ago can start to rock, rub or drop when you talk.
That is usually solved with a denture reline, where a fresh layer of material is added to the fitting surface to restore contact with the gum. Have this checked roughly every two years, or sooner if it feels loose.
Breakages happen too, and household adhesives are not a fix. Superglue is toxic in the mouth and permanently contaminates the acrylic, often turning a simple repair into a remake. Our denture repair service starts from £80, most jobs are finished within 50 minutes, and we operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including bank holidays.
If the appliance is beyond saving we make new dentures from scratch, and our team can carry out a full oral assessment at the same visit through our clinical services.
Single Tooth Denture FAQs
Can You Get a Denture for Just One Tooth?
Yes. A single tooth denture is made specifically for one missing tooth and is one of the most common appliances we produce. There is no minimum number of teeth you need to have lost.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Single Tooth Denture?
Typically one to two weeks from impression to fitting, depending on the material and the laboratory schedule. Temporary appliances can often be produced faster.
Will a Single Tooth Denture Be Noticeable?
It should. The replacement tooth is shade matched to your own teeth and shaped to the same proportions. Flexible designs with gum coloured clasps are the least noticeable option for front teeth.
Can You Eat Normally With a Single Tooth Denture?
Most people can eat almost everything within a few weeks. Start with softer foods cut small, chew evenly on both sides, and build up. Very hard or sticky items are worth approaching with care, particularly early on.
Do You Sleep With a Single Tooth Denture In?
Generally no. Taking it out overnight lets the gum tissue recover and reduces the risk of infection. Follow whatever advice your dental professional has given you, since there are exceptions immediately after an extraction.
How Long Does a Single Tooth Denture Last?
With good care, an acrylic appliance commonly lasts around five years and a chrome one longer. The fit will need adjusting well before the denture itself wears out.
Can a Broken Single Tooth Denture Be Repaired?
In most cases yes, provided no household glue has been applied. Clean breaks, cracked bases and detached teeth are all routinely repairable. Bring it to us before attempting anything yourself.
Get Expert Advice on Your Single Tooth Denture
A missing tooth is worth sorting sooner rather than later, because the teeth either side of a gap gradually drift into the space and make treatment more complicated. A single tooth denture is a straightforward, affordable way to close it.
We have looked after denture wearers across London, Surrey and the South East for over 30 years, and our qualified technicians come to your home at a time that suits you. Whether you need a new denture made, an existing one relined or an urgent repair, we will talk you through the options with no obligation.
Call us on 01737 307202 or get in touch for a free quote.
