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15% off this weekend, by post and at our clinic, taken off for you. Dentures are not included.

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Flipper tooth UK: a guide to temporary teeth

A flipper tooth is a light, removable false tooth that fills a gap while you heal or wait. In the UK it is called a temporary partial denture.

Missing tooth retainer on a lilac backgroundOur missing tooth retainer

A missing tooth retainer, made in our UK lab. Same day at our clinic from £199, or by post from £185.

  • Rated Excellent on Trustpilot
  • Made in our UK lab
  • GDC registered technicians

Ways to fill a gap for now

The main temporary false tooth choices. Flipper prices are from Dentaly.

Flipper

£200 to £2,000 private

1 to 2 days after moulds

Just had a tooth out, or waiting for an implant

Things to know

Acrylic can feel bulky and crack if dropped.

Visit Denture Services

Missing tooth retainer

£185 by post, £199 same day

3 days by post, or 3 hours

A slim, clear cosmetic cover for a checked, healed gap

Things to know

Cosmetic only. It does not replace a dentist's plan for the gap.

Same day missing tooth retainers

Click in veneers

£199 by post, £399 same day

3 days by post, or 4 hours

A gap plus stained or uneven teeth

Things to know

Not suitable with loose teeth, braces or severe gum problems.

Same day click in veneers

Mouldable bead kits

Low cost online

Shaped at home

A very short emergency stopgap at most

Things to know

Look and fit depend on your own shaping.

What is a flipper tooth?

A flipper tooth is a small acrylic plate with one or more false teeth. It sits against the roof of your mouth or gum and clips around the teeth either side. It flips in and out easily, hence the name.

Dentists use it as a stopgap, often made before a tooth comes out so you never leave the house with a gap. It is meant for the weeks or months while the gum heals or you wait for an implant or bridge, not years of daily wear.

It is a partial denture, so a dentist or clinical dental technician makes it. They check the gap, take moulds and make sure it does not press on healing gum.

How much does a flipper tooth cost in the UK?

There is no single price: it depends on the material and design. Get a written quote and ask what adjustments are included.

On the NHS a flipper counts as a denture: band 3 in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own charges, so check nhs.uk or NHS inform.

For long term dentures and repairs, our sister business Denture Services is the right place. We make cosmetic appliances; they make real dentures.

Fake tooth kits are a different thing

Search for a tooth gap filler and you'll find fake tooth kits: plastic beads you soften in hot water, press into the gap and shape by hand. Sellers call them a temporary stopgap.

They are not a flipper or a missing tooth retainer. Nothing is made from a model of your teeth, the look depends on your sculpting, and no one checks the gap. On a new, sore or bleeding gap, a kit can hide a problem.

Using one for a night out while you wait? Keep it clean, take it out to sleep, stop if it rubs, and get the gap checked.

A new gap needs a dentist first

Tooth knocked out, broken off, or out with pain or swelling? Call your dentist, or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours, before covering it.

How our missing tooth retainer is made

  1. 1Get the gap checked

    No referral needed, but get a new or sore gap checked by a dentist first.

  2. 2Impressions or a visit

    Take impressions at home with our kit, or book our clinic in Motherwell. We are a dental lab, not a dentist.

  3. 3Shade and make

    Matched with a real tooth shade guide. GDC registered technicians set the tooth in a clear retainer.

  4. 4Wear and care

    Clip it in when you want, clean it daily. Usually lasts 6 to 18 months, depending on the person.

A gap covered with a missing tooth retainer

Before: a customer at our clinic with two missing front teethBefore
After: the same customer later that dayAfter: Missing tooth retainer
Missing tooth retainerPrices and booking are below.

Same day missing tooth retainer at our clinic. Results vary from person to person.

Missing tooth retainer prices

By post covers up to 4 teeth. Same day at our clinic covers up to 3 teeth per arch. 18 or over.

Clear retainer with a built in toothOur missing tooth retainer
Same day at our clinic
£199one arch, £299 both
  • Up to 3 teeth per arch, around 3 hours
  • Impressions taken with our team
  • Klarna Pay in 3 at our clinic
Book a time
By post
£185one arch, £299 both
  • Up to 4 teeth, made in 3 days
  • Impression kit sent to your door
  • Made in our UK lab
Order by post

£25 to book a same day visit, taken off your total and refunded if you cancel 24 hours or more before. Klarna Pay in 3 at our clinic: 18 or over, subject to approval. Late fees may apply. Borrowing more than you can afford or paying late may affect your ability to get credit.

Questions people ask

Something else? Send us a message.

Is a flipper tooth the same as a missing tooth retainer?

No. A flipper is a pink acrylic partial denture made with a dentist. A missing tooth retainer is a clear retainer with a cosmetic tooth, made in our lab. Both are removable and cover a gap; only one is a denture.

How long can you wear a flipper tooth?

Only as a stopgap. Long wear can loosen it, so ask your dentist how long to wear yours.

Can I get a temporary tooth the same day?

A dentist can sometimes make one before an extraction. At our clinic, a missing tooth retainer is ready in around 3 hours once the gap is checked and healed. Booking needs a £25 deposit that comes off the total.

Do fake tooth kits damage your teeth?

They are sold as short term stopgaps. The bigger risk is skipping the dentist for a gap that needs care.

Can I eat with a flipper or missing tooth retainer?

Most people learn to eat soft food with a flipper; hard or chewy food can crack acrylic. Follow the care guide that comes with either.

Does a flipper tooth stop other teeth moving?

It can help stop nearby teeth drifting into the gap while you wait. A dentist will say how soon to plan a longer term option.

Smile without the gap.

Missing tooth retainer, made in our UK lab. Same day at our clinic near Glasgow, or by post to your door.

About this guide

Written by the team at our UK dental lab, where GDC registered technicians make every appliance. We are a dental lab, not a dentist: we make cosmetic and protective appliances and cannot diagnose or treat dental problems. If you are unsure, see a dentist first.

Written by the Venneir lab team. Updated 12 Nov 2026.

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