What Is a Dental Implant?

If you're missing a tooth, a dental implant replaces it from the root up — not just the visible crown. Unlike a bridge or a removable denture, it doesn't rely on the teeth next to it for support, which means those neighboring teeth stay untouched and structurally intact.

How it works

A small titanium (or, increasingly, zirconia) post is placed into the jawbone, where it acts as an artificial root. Over the following months, the surrounding bone fuses to the post in a process called osseointegration — this is what gives an implant its stability and long-term strength. Once that fusion is complete, an abutment is attached, followed by a custom-matched crown on top.

Why patients choose implants

• They function and feel like a natural tooth, including full chewing strength

• They don't rely on neighboring teeth for support, unlike a bridge

• They help preserve jawbone density, which a missing tooth allows to gradually shrink over time

• With proper care, they're built to last for decades, often a lifetime

• They're cleaned exactly like natural teeth — no special soaking or removal required

Who's a good candidate?

Most healthy adults with adequate jawbone density are candidates, regardless of age. Smokers, and patients with uncontrolled diabetes, active gum disease, or certain bone conditions, may need additional evaluation or preparatory treatment — such as a bone graft — before an implant can be placed safely.

The process, at a glance

• Consultation and imaging, to map bone density and plan exact placement

• Implant placement, a procedure typically done under local anesthesia in under an hour

• Healing period (2–6 months, depending on the site and whether bone grafting was needed)

• Abutment and crown placement, completing the restoration

If you're considering an implant, the first step is simply a consultation — we'll confirm candidacy with imaging before anything is scheduled, and walk you through realistic timelines for your specific case.