While waiting for a single tooth replacement, should I invest in a temporary bridge (flipper)?

I lost a lateral incisor on the upper left side of my mouth. It had a very old and rather extensive filling in it, some pretty significant work from way back, and when I bit into a piece of beef jerky, it fractured so badly the dentist had to take it down to the gum line. The root is still in place, so the periodontist says I am a perfect candidate for a single tooth replacement, because there has been no bone loss in the suppporting jaw bone.

My question is, what are the trade-offs of getting a flipper (temporary snap-in bridge) to cover up the ugly snaggletooth smile till I can have a post implanted, wait for it to set, and then get the permanent replacement put in place?

How easy is it to eat with a flipper in place? How much likelihood is there of damage to the supporting teeth? Do flippers appear natural, or can a discerning eye pick out the fake tooth? It adds about $500 to the process if I get a flipper, but I hate smiling with my mouth closed and being embarrassed about the obvious missing tooth. Is it worth this cost and hassle? Any advice regarding the various forms of single-tooth replacements to select? I’d love to hear from those who have been through it or know someone wh has, or any dental workers here.