Replacing missing teeth can restore your confidence and, just as importantly, help protect your long-term oral health. At Fourways Dental Surgery in Chalford Hill, Stroud, we offer several ways to replace one or more missing teeth and will help you choose the option that best suits your mouth, your lifestyle and your budget.

Why replacing missing teeth matters

When a tooth is lost, the neighbouring teeth can drift into the space, and the opposing tooth can over-erupt, which may affect your bite and make cleaning harder. Replacing missing teeth helps you eat and speak comfortably and keeps the rest of your teeth working well together.

Your options

• Dental bridges — a fixed restoration anchored to the teeth on both sides of the gap; a good option for replacing one or a few teeth without a removable appliance.
• Dentures — removable replacements for some or all of your teeth, available in acrylic, chrome and semi-flexible designs.
• Dental implants — where suitable, an implant replaces the tooth root to support a crown, bridge or denture. We will assess your suitability and discuss whether this can be provided here or through referral.

What to expect

We start with a full assessment to check the health of your teeth, gums and the supporting bone, then talk you through the realistic options, what each involves, how long it takes and the cost, before you decide what is right for you.

Missing teeth treatment fees

These are guide prices. Your treatment plan and final costs are confirmed in writing after your consultation. Patients under 18 receive 50% off our standard fees (excluding orthodontics and root canal treatment).

Clear aligners are a discreet alternative to fixed braces, using a series of custom-made, near-invisible removable trays to gradually straighten the teeth. Invisalign is the best known of these systems. At Fourways Dental Surgery in Chalford Hill, Stroud, we offer clear aligner treatment for suitable adults and older teenagers who would like a less noticeable way to improve their smile.

How clear aligners work

Each aligner is worn over the teeth and changed roughly every couple of weeks, with each set moving the teeth a little closer to the planned position. Because they are removable, you take them out to eat, drink and clean your teeth, which many patients find convenient. For the best results, aligners need to be worn for around 20 to 22 hours a day.

What to expect

Treatment begins with an assessment and a digital scan or impressions to plan your tooth movements and confirm whether clear aligners are suitable for you. Mild, short-lived discomfort is normal when changing to a new aligner. Treatment time varies with the complexity of your case, and some cases are better treated with fixed braces — we will always give you honest advice.

As with any orthodontic treatment, you will need to wear a retainer afterwards to keep your teeth in their new position.

Clear aligner fees

Guide prices, confirmed in writing in your treatment plan after assessment. The under-18 discount does not apply to orthodontic treatment.

Dentures are removable replacements for missing teeth that can restore your ability to eat, speak and smile with confidence. At Fourways Dental Surgery in Chalford Hill, Stroud, we provide full and partial dentures in a range of materials to suit your needs and budget.

Types of denture

A full denture replaces all the teeth in the upper or lower jaw, while a partial denture fills the gaps left by some missing teeth and fits around those that remain. We offer acrylic dentures, lightweight cobalt-chromium (chrome) dentures with a slim metal framework, and semi-flexible dentures, and we will help you choose the most suitable type for you.

What to expect

Making a denture takes several visits to take impressions, check the fit and choose the shape and shade of the teeth. New dentures can feel strange at first and take a little time to get used to; we will adjust them as needed and explain how to clean and care for them. Over time, dentures may need relining or repair as your mouth naturally changes.

Denture fees

These are guide prices. Your treatment plan and final costs are confirmed in writing after your consultation. Patients under 18 receive 50% off our standard fees (excluding orthodontics and root canal treatment).

A dental crown is a custom-made cap that covers a damaged, weak or heavily filled tooth to restore its strength, shape and appearance. At Fourways Dental Surgery in Chalford Hill, Stroud, we provide zirconia and porcelain crowns that look and function like natural teeth.

When a crown is needed

A crown may be recommended when a tooth is broken, badly worn, heavily filled, or has had root canal treatment and needs protecting. It covers the whole visible part of the tooth, holding it together and helping you bite and chew normally again.

What to expect

Fitting a crown usually takes two visits. The tooth is prepared, an impression or digital scan is taken, and a temporary crown may be placed while your permanent crown is made. At the second visit, the crown is checked, adjusted and fixed in place, matched to the shade of your natural teeth.

We will only recommend a crown where it is the right option for the tooth. Where a simpler restoration, such as a filling, will do, we will say so.

Dental crown fees

These are guide prices. Your treatment plan and final costs are confirmed in writing after your consultation. Patients under 18 receive 50% off our standard fees (excluding orthodontics and root canal treatment).

A dental bridge is a fixed way to replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring a replacement tooth to the teeth or crowns on either side of the gap. At Fourways Dental Surgery in Chalford Hill, Stroud, we provide zirconia and porcelain bridges that restore your ability to bite and chew while blending in with your natural teeth.

Why replace a missing tooth

Replacing a missing tooth is about more than appearance. A gap can allow neighbouring teeth to drift, affect the way your teeth meet and make cleaning harder. A bridge fills the space with a fixed restoration that stays in place and is not removed for cleaning, unlike a denture.

What to expect

Fitting a bridge usually takes two visits. The supporting teeth are prepared, an impression or digital scan is taken, and the bridge is custom-made before being fitted and adjusted for a comfortable bite. We will show you how to clean beneath the bridge to keep it and the surrounding teeth healthy.

A bridge is one of several ways to replace missing teeth. Depending on your case, a denture or a dental implant may suit you better, and we will talk through the options, including how each affects the neighbouring teeth.

Dental bridge fees

Bridges are priced per unit, each tooth or crown that makes up the bridge. A typical three-unit bridge would therefore be around £2,700. These are guide prices. Your treatment plan and final costs are confirmed in writing after your consultation. Patients under 18 receive 50% off our standard fees (excluding orthodontics and root canal treatment).

Professional teeth whitening is a safe, effective way to lift stains and brighten your smile when carried out by a registered dental professional. At Fourways Dental Surgery in Chalford Hill, Stroud, we provide custom-made whitening using trays moulded to your teeth, so the gel is applied evenly and comfortably.

How whitening works

Whitening lightens the natural shade of your teeth to reduce everyday staining from food, drink and age. By law, tooth whitening must be carried out or prescribed by a registered dental professional following an examination. We will first check that your teeth and gums are healthy and that whitening is suitable for you, then explain what you can realistically expect, as results vary from person to person.

What to expect

We take an impression or scan to make your custom trays, then show you how to use the whitening gel at home over a set period, with our guidance throughout. Some people notice mild, temporary sensitivity during treatment, which usually settles quickly.

Whitening does not change the colour of fillings, crowns or veneers, and the results are not permanent. Occasional top-ups help maintain the effect.

Teeth whitening fees

Priced per arch; whitening both the upper and lower teeth is £600. Guide price, confirmed after your consultation. For safety and legal reasons, we do not provide whitening for cosmetic purposes to patients under 18.

Dental veneers are thin, custom-made shells bonded to the front of the teeth to improve their shape, colour and alignment. At Fourways Dental Surgery in Chalford Hill, Stroud, we offer porcelain veneers to help address chips, gaps, worn edges and discolouration that does not respond to whitening.

How veneers work

Each veneer is custom-made to fit your tooth and chosen to suit the shade and shape of your smile. Preparing a tooth for a porcelain veneer usually involves removing a small amount of enamel so the veneer sits flush and looks natural. Because this step cannot be reversed, veneers are a long-term commitment that we will only recommend after carefully assessing whether they are right for you.

What to expect

Treatment usually takes two or more visits. First, your dentist prepares the teeth and takes an impression or digital scan; the veneers are then made and bonded into place at a later appointment. We will discuss the planned result and answer your questions before any permanent work begins.

Veneers are not suitable for everyone. If your teeth are healthy and you would prefer a reversible change, composite bonding may be a better option; if a tooth is heavily restored or weakened, a crown may be more appropriate. We will discuss the alternatives with you.

Dental veneer fees

These are guide prices. Your treatment plan and final costs are confirmed in writing after your consultation. Patients under 18 receive 50% off our standard fees (excluding orthodontics and root canal treatment).

Composite bonding is a simple, tooth-coloured treatment that can repair and reshape teeth, often in a single visit. At Fourways Dental Surgery in Chalford Hill, Stroud, we use it to improve the appearance of teeth with minimal — sometimes no — removal of natural tooth tissue, making it one of the more conservative cosmetic options available.

What composite bonding can do

Bonding uses a tooth-coloured resin that is carefully shaped onto the tooth and set with a curing light. It can repair:

• Minor chips
• Close small gaps
• Reshape uneven teeth
• Disguise small marks or discolouration

Because little or no enamel is usually removed, it is often a good first option for patients who would like a subtle improvement without more involved treatment.

What to expect

Treatment usually takes a single appointment. Your dentist will match the resin to the natural shade of your teeth, apply and shape it, then polish it for a natural finish. There is normally no need for anaesthesia. Composite bonding is hard-wearing but not indestructible; like natural teeth, it can chip or stain over time, so we will explain how to care for it, and roughly how long you can expect it to last.

Bonding works best for small changes. If you have larger gaps, significant wear or a heavily damaged tooth, your dentist may suggest veneers or a crown instead, and will talk you through the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Composite bonding fees

These are guide prices. Your treatment plan and final costs are confirmed in writing after your consultation. Patients under 18 receive 50% off our standard fees (excluding orthodontics and root canal treatment).

At Fourways Dental Surgery Clinic, located at Middle Hill, Chalford Hill, Stroud, Glos. GL6 8BD, we specialize in providing high-quality root canal treatments to save and preserve damaged or infected teeth. Root canal therapy is an essential procedure to treat infection within the tooth’s pulp, alleviating pain and preventing further complications. Our experienced team uses the latest technology and techniques to perform root canal treatments with precision and minimal discomfort, ensuring a smooth, effective procedure. Whether you’re experiencing severe tooth pain, sensitivity, or swelling, Fourways Dental Surgery Clinic offers compassionate care and expert solutions to restore your oral health. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discover how root canal treatment can help save your natural teeth and maintain your smile.