A dental implant is a small, titanium rod that is placed into the jawbone and functions as an artificial tooth root. Crowns or dentures can be attached to the implants after they have healed for several months. Implants are the treatment of choice to bring a patient’s lifestyle back to normalcy and to avoid any unnecessary tooth reduction of adjacent teeth.
Once healed, attachments can be fastened to the implants to hold a crown, a bridge, or denture. Implants can greatly improve the quality of life, although it is not recommended for patients in poor health, patients who smoke or have deficiencies in their jaw anatomy.