Got an x-ray and discovered that my front tooth has no root, just a nasty black hole where the root should be. I'm told that my best best is to get the tooth out and wear a temporary denture until I've had a titanium implant and new crown made.

Is this right, or are there alternatives?

The bottom line is, the root is dead, that's why it shows black on the x ray. Wasn't that explained to you? Did you ask questions ?

He has given you all alternatives, but I don't agree with the temp denture unless you are fussy about your appearance. Temp dentures cost money, so can you do without and wait until he takes the castes.

Titanium implant. No. That is a lot of money and he is selling you the moon. I had bridges made on my back teeth and have had them for years. So ask him about a bridge and crown for your front tooth. However, you have to decide what kind of money you want to spend on this, weigh all the options and decide. Do you have dental insurance ?

He did talk about bridge work, but said that because it was between a crowned tooth and a tooth with a short (but healthy) root, it might not be the ideal option.

This is an upper front tooth. A gap there would be very obvious.

An implant is an ideal way to replace a missing tooth. Cost wise it's a little more than a bridge but not a heck of a lot more.
Replacing the tooth with an implant will prevent you from losing bone in the area of the removed tooth. If a bridge was placed you would find that the gap between the false tooth and the gums would get larger because the bone will continue to resorb. The implant makes the body think there is a tooth present and bone will continue to regenerate in the area.
Implants are becoming much more affordable now but I'd recommend you find someone who has placed many implants successfully.

Thanks. The dentist I saw yesterday is a specialist in this, and charges accordingly, but did say that a bridge would cost around the same.