What Is a Dental Implant?

Think of a dental implant the way you'd think of a fence post set in concrete. The post is the implant itself — a small titanium screw, about the size of a pencil eraser, that your dentist carefully places into your jawbone. Once that post is secure, it supports everything above it: a connector piece called an abutment, and finally the crown — the tooth-shaped cap you actually see when you smile.

What makes implants remarkable is the material: titanium. Your body doesn't reject it. Over the course of three to six months, your jawbone actually grows around the implant in a process called osseointegration — from the Latin words for "bone" and "to make whole." The implant becomes part of you, as stable as a natural tooth root.

How Is It Different from a Bridge or Denture?

Bridges require grinding down the healthy teeth on either side to create anchors. Dentures rest on your gums and can slip. Implants stand on their own. They don't affect neighboring teeth, they don't need adhesive, and they stimulate your jawbone the way natural roots do — preventing the bone loss that happens when a tooth goes missing.

Who Places Implants?

Implants are placed by dentists with advanced training in oral surgery or implantology. The procedure happens in stages: first the implant is placed and allowed to fuse with the bone; then the abutment is attached; finally the custom crown is placed. The total process typically takes three to six months, though some cases qualify for same-day placement.

Are They Permanent?

The implant itself — the titanium post — can last a lifetime with proper care. The crown on top, like any dental crown, may need replacement after 15–25 years due to normal wear. Brush and floss around implants just as you would natural teeth. They don't get cavities, but the gum tissue around them still needs attention.

Ready to find out if you're a candidate? Take the Implant Readiness Assessment in the Rewards tab, or visit our Find a Dentist section to book a consultation.