Dental Implants

Dental implants are metal cylinders made of titanium surgically placed in the jawbone where teeth are missing. Implants replace the roots of missing teeth and support single crowns, large bridges, and dentures. State-of-the-art technology makes it possible for these implant-supported replacement teeth to look, feel, and function like natural teeth.

Types of Dental Implants

There are many types of dental implants and many ways to use dental implants to achieve your goals of a pleasing smile and good chewing function. Visit with your prosthodontist to find out how dental implants can improve your life and if you are a good candidate for dental implants.

Do I Need Dental Implants?

There are a variety of circumstances that may lead to missing teeth and the need for dental implants. For example: 

• If diagnosed and treated early, most cavities and decayed teeth can be treated simply with a filling, but in some cases the decay is so extensive the tooth cannot be restored and must be extracted.
• Patients with a cleft lip often experience a missing tooth or teeth in a position corresponding to the cleft.
• The forces generated by a patient grinding his/her teeth may be great enough to severely fracture a tooth leading to its extraction.
• Ill-fitting and loose dentures 

Would you like to learn more? Read these frequently asked questions about dental implants.

The American College of Prosthodontists maintains position statements on the placement of dental implants and zygomatic implants.

Find a Prosthodontist to see if you need Dental Implants

There are many different types of dental implants that are used for different situations. To learn more about the types of implants or if this dental procedure is right for you, browse our extensive network of doctors to find a Prosthodontist near you.