What Are Dental Implants?

How dental implants work

A dental implant replaces the root of a missing tooth. It's a small post placed in the jawbone, and once the bone has healed around it, it holds a crown, a bridge or a denture in place. The Canadian Dental Association describes it as an artificial root, usually titanium, that integrates with the jaw. That anchor in the bone is the main difference from removable dentures or tooth-supported bridges.

This page covers what an implant is made of, how the parts fit together and what implants are used for. Once that's clear, the different types of dental implants are easier to compare.

What is a dental implant?

It's a post, usually titanium and sometimes zirconia, placed surgically in the jawbone where a tooth is missing. Over the following weeks and months, bone grows onto its surface. That process is called osseointegration, and it's what turns the post into a stable anchor.

Once integrated, an implant can support:

• A single crown to replace one missing tooth
• A bridge to replace several missing teeth in a row
• A full-arch prosthesis to replace all the teeth in an upper or lower jaw

The three main parts of a dental implant

Most implant restorations have three parts:

1. The implant fixture. The post in the jawbone. It does the job of a tooth root and carries everything above it.
2. The abutment. A connector that attaches to the top of the fixture, usually after healing, and links it to the visible tooth.
3. The restoration. The part you see: a crown, bridge or denture, shaped to look and work like natural teeth.

How implants differ from other options

An implant is held in the jawbone. A conventional bridge is held by the natural teeth on either side of the gap, and a removable denture rests on the gums with no fixed anchor.

Because the bone holds it, an implant restoration is generally steadier than a denture, which can affect chewing and comfort. The trade-off is surgery, healing time and ongoing maintenance. The side-by-side guide on how implants compare to bridges and dentures goes through those differences in detail.

Which option fits depends on things a dentist can check: the health of your remaining teeth, the bone where the tooth is missing, your medical history, and what you want from treatment and can budget for.

What dental implants are used for

Common uses include:

• Replacing a single missing tooth with an implant-supported crown
• Replacing several missing teeth in a row with an implant-supported bridge
• Replacing all the teeth in one or both jaws with a full-arch restoration
• Holding a removable denture more securely
• Making chewing easier, which can widen what you're able to eat
• Restoring facial support that may be affected by tooth loss

How long can dental implants last?

In systematic reviews, about 94 to 96 percent of implants were still in place after ten years (Moraschini 2015; Howe 2019). That figure measures survival: the implant remains. It doesn't mean nothing went wrong along the way, and it can't predict what will happen with your own implant.

The crown, bridge or denture on top wears with use and may need adjusting, repairing or replacing over time.

What affects how well an implant does over the years:

• Daily cleaning at home
• Your general health and any conditions that affect healing
• Smoking
• Regular professional check-ups and cleanings

What dental implants do not do

Implants solve some problems and not others. They:

• Don't prevent future problems with your other teeth or gums
• Don't remove the need for daily cleaning
• May not be possible where there isn't enough bone to hold them, unless the bone can be built up first
• Aren't one standard treatment: the number, position and type of restoration are planned for each mouth

Why a consultation is necessary

Only an examination can show whether implants are an option for you. The guide on who is a good candidate for dental implants covers the factors in more depth. At the assessment, a dentist usually looks at:

• The height, width and density of the bone in your jaw
• The health of your gums and surrounding tissues
• Your bite and how your teeth meet
• Your medical history, including anything that affects healing
• Which alternatives would also work, and their trade-offs

If you'd like to know how that appointment runs, see what happens at a dental implant consultation. Once you have an estimate in hand, our guide on how to compare dental implant quotes helps you check what it includes.