Implants are small screws designed to replace the root of a tooth and restore the physical appearance and the chewing function of patients with partial or full tooth loss.  Dental implants are intended for use in the upper and/or the lower jaw.  They enable restorations that range from replacement of one single tooth to an entire arch of bridgework, or as stabilizing elements for dentures.

How do dental implants work?

A dental implant is a titanium "root" used in dentistry to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth to replace missing teeth.

Virtually all dental implants placed today are root-form endosseous implants, i.e., they appear similar to an actual tooth root (and thus possess a "root-form") and are placed within the bone (end- being the Greek prefix for "in" and osseous referring to "bone"). The bone of the jaw accepts and osseointegrates with the titanium post.  The osseointegration is the component of this implant procedure that makes it resemble the look and feel of a natural tooth.

Dental implants can be used to support a number of dental prostheses, including crowns, implant-supported bridges or dentures.  They can also be used as anchorage for orthodontic tooth movement.  The use of dental implants permits unidirectional tooth movement without reciprocal action.