Same Day Tooth Replacement
Serving Boston, Greater Boston, Waltham & Surrounding Cities
Walk in with a missing tooth. Walk out with a natural-looking smile.
If you are missing a tooth, you do not have to live with a gap in your smile while you wait for treatment. In a single 90-minute appointment, Dr. Jeffrey S. Cummings can place a natural-looking temporary bridge that lets you smile, eat and talk normally the same day. Your final restoration is fabricated in the laboratory and placed about two weeks later.
Our Waltham office serves patients throughout the Greater Boston area, and for most bridge cases the consultation can be done over the phone.
Smile Confidently Today
The Same Day Dental Bridge
A dental bridge replaces a missing tooth by anchoring the replacement to the healthy teeth on either side of the gap. At your first appointment we make a cosmetic temporary bridge that acts as a prototype for the final restoration, so you leave the office with a complete smile that day.
The final bridge is fabricated in the laboratory and cemented roughly two weeks later. Many patients tell us they cannot tell the difference between the temporary and the final result. We recommend this treatment often because it is non-invasive, predictable and fast.
The Same Day Tooth Replacement Process
Two appointments. That is the entire process.
Appointment 1: Exam, Preparation & Same-Day Temporary (90 minutes)
- Dr. Cummings reviews your goals with you and completes an exam with x-rays.
- If a dental bridge is the right treatment for you, we move forward the same day.
- The area is numbed with local anesthetic and the supporting teeth are prepared.
- A natural-looking temporary bridge is made and placed.
- A final digital impression is taken and sent to the laboratory.
Appointment 2: Final Bridge Placement (30 minutes)
- About two weeks later, the temporary is removed.
- Your final bridge is checked, adjusted and cemented permanently.
- You leave with your finished restoration.
Call (781) 894-4114 for your complimentary consultation. In most cases we can do it over the phone.
Tooth Replacement Options — What Are Same Day Dental Implants?
Same day dental implants allow some patients to have the implant placed and a temporary tooth attached during the same visit. Like a dental bridge, this prevents you from walking around with a visible gap while you heal.
Not everyone qualifies. Patients who do not have enough bone, who smoke, or who have certain medical conditions are not candidates for same day implant placement. Dr. Cummings will tell you honestly at your consultation which option fits your situation.
Dental Implant vs. Dental Bridge: Which Tooth Replacement Is Right for You?
Most people think of dental implants first, and implants are a good option. But they are not the only option, and they are rarely the fastest one. Here is how the two compare across the five factors that matter most.
| Same Day Dental Bridge | Dental Implant | |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | Replaces the tooth immediately | Weeks to months of planning & healing |
| Surgery | No surgery required | Requires surgical placement |
| Longevity | 25+ years in Dr. Cummings’ cases | Can last many years |
| Temporization | Immediate, cosmetic & comfortable | Trickier, especially for front teeth |
| Patient Selection | Only exclusion: loose adjacent teeth | Not for smokers or low-bone cases |
Timeline
Tooth replacement with an implant takes considerably longer than a bridge. Implants require planning around available bone, a temporization strategy, surgical placement, healing time and final restoration. A dental bridge replaces the tooth immediately.
Surgery
Tooth replacement with an implant requires surgical placement. A dental bridge does not.
Longevity
Both approaches can last for many years. Dr. Cummings has placed bridges that are still in service after more than 25 years.
Temporization
With a dental bridge, the temporary tooth is immediate, cosmetic and comfortable. With an implant, temporization is far trickier and can be difficult to get right both cosmetically and functionally, which matters most when the missing tooth is in the front of your mouth.
Patient Selection
Patients who smoke, who do not have enough bone, or who have compromised medical histories cannot have same day dental implants. For a dental bridge, the only real exclusion is loose teeth next to the gap.
Before & After Photos
Every case below was completed by Dr. Cummings at our Waltham office.
Before & After photos of a new dental bridge
Before & After photos of a new dental bridge
Before & After photos of a new dental bridge
Before & After photos of a new dental bridge
How Much Does Same Day Tooth Replacement Cost?
Cost is the first question most patients ask, so we will answer it directly. In the Greater Boston area, a same day tooth replacement generally runs $2,000 to $3,000 per tooth involved. Your exact fee depends on how many teeth support the bridge and the condition of those teeth. You will have an exact number before any treatment begins.
Financing Options
We work with CareCredit and LendingClub to help patients who need to spread the cost out. For most patients, monthly payments land in the range of $150 to $200.
Dental Insurance Benefits
Insurance can cover part of this procedure, though typically only a small part. Patients pay up front and we bill your insurance when the case is complete so any benefit comes back to you.
Not sure what your insurance covers? Call (781) 894-4114 and we will walk you through it.
Can You Eat Normally After Same Day Tooth Replacement? Yes.
Once your final bridge or implant restoration is in place, you can eat what you want.
While you are wearing the temporary, there are a few restrictions. Temporaries are made of plastic, so they are not as strong as the final restoration. We will give you a short list of things to avoid for those two weeks.
One rule applies at every stage: stay away from very sticky foods like caramel and taffy. Sticky foods can loosen almost any dental restoration, temporary or permanent.
Common Questions About Same Day Tooth Replacement
Yes. The tooth is extracted and a temporary bridge is placed that looks natural and covers the extraction site, so you never leave with a visible gap.
A dental bridge. In many cases it can be started at the same visit as your exam, as long as there is enough time in the schedule that day.
Implants are well marketed and they are a good option, but they cannot be completed in a day. They require more appointments and more planning, and for a front tooth the best cosmetic result can be hard to achieve. Our patients choose same day bridges because the process is fast, straightforward and looks great.
Dr. Cummings has placed many bridges that have lasted more than 25 years. Bridges were the standard of care for tooth replacement for decades, and they remain a proven, predictable treatment.
For a dental bridge, the consultation can often be handled over the phone. For dental implants, you will need to come into the office before we can give you an opinion.
Yes. We prefer dental bridges for front tooth replacement, where appearance matters most. For back teeth, an implant is often the better long-term choice, especially when there is enough bone and the tooth does not show when you smile.
Rarely, and almost never with the final bridge. It is a very predictable procedure.
For the most part, yes. The main exception is when the remaining teeth are severely decayed or have advanced gum disease.
Generally $2,000 to $3,000 per tooth involved, with financing available through CareCredit and LendingClub. See the cost section above for details.
What Our Patients Say
See if a Same Day Bridge Is Right for You
Tell us a little about your missing tooth and we’ll get right back to you. For most bridge cases, Dr. Cummings can give you an opinion over the phone.
- Complimentary, no-pressure consultation
- Most bridge consults handled by phone
- An exact price before any treatment begins
Prefer to talk now? Call (781) 894-4114
Request a Free Consultation
Meet Dr. Cummings
Dr. Jeffrey S. Cummings has more than 35 years of experience in restorative and cosmetic dentistry. He trained at Tufts University and holds multiple patents in the field. He has built his practice around treatment that is conservative, predictable and finished quickly.
Ready to Replace Your Missing Tooth?
Walk in with a gap, walk out with a natural-looking smile. Call today for your complimentary consultation.