Dental implants
A dental implant replaces a missing tooth from the root up: a small post in the jawbone, and a natural-looking tooth on top. This page explains what implants are, who they can help, and what treatment involves.
What is a dental implant?
A natural tooth has two parts: the crown you see, and the root that holds it in the jawbone. An implant replaces the root. It is a small post, placed in the bone where the root used to be. Over the following weeks, the bone grows around the post and holds it firmly, a process called osseointegration. Once the implant is secure, it can hold a replacement tooth the way a root held the original.
An implant restoration has three parts: the implant (the post in the bone), the abutment (a small connector), and the crown or prosthesis (the tooth, or set of teeth, you see).
One tooth, several teeth, or a full set
Implants are flexible. A single implant can replace one missing tooth, with no need to involve the teeth next to it. A few implants can support a bridge replacing several teeth in a row. And a full set of upper or lower teeth, called a full arch, can be fixed in place on a small number of implants. That full arch option is the treatment many denture wearers are looking for when they say they want teeth that stay put.
Who can implants help?
- People missing one or more teeth
- People whose remaining teeth are failing and cannot be saved
- Denture wearers whose dentures slip, hurt, or limit what they can eat
- People who want fixed teeth that do not come out at night
Not every situation is straightforward. Bone, health history, and habits all play a part, which is why treatment starts with an examination and 3D imaging rather than a guess. If you have been told implants are not possible for you, the advanced implant options page explains why that answer sometimes changes.
What treatment involves
- Consultation and imaging. Your options are explained in plain language, and you receive a plan for your exact case.
- Placement. The implant is placed in a surgical visit, with sedation choices matched to your case and your comfort.
- Healing. The bone grows around the implant over a period of weeks to months. In many full arch cases, you wear temporary teeth during this time, so you never go without a smile.
- Final teeth. Once healing is complete, your final crown, bridge, or prosthesis is made and fitted.
Implants, dentures, and bridges
Dentures rest on the gums and come out at night. They can slip, and over time the bone under them shrinks, which changes their fit. A traditional bridge is fixed, but it is held by the neighboring teeth, which have to be shaped to support it. Implants stand on their own. And because an implant sits in the bone like a root, it helps keep that bone stimulated, which helps preserve the shape of your jaw over time.
Caring for implants
Care is familiar: daily cleaning at home, recommended maintenance and hygiene visits, and keeping your regular dentist in the loop. An implant cannot get a cavity, but the gum and bone around it still need looking after, and those visits are how small issues get caught while they are still small. More on longevity: how long do dental implants last?
A team approach
Implant treatment often involves a small team: a surgeon for the placement, your own dentist for your teeth and your ongoing care, and a dental laboratory that makes the prosthesis. Each part is done by the person who trained for it, and your dentist stays involved throughout.