A dental implant is a prosthetic device, made of titanium, which is implanted beneath the oral tissues and within the bone to provide retention and support for a fixed or removable prosthesis. Dental implants have significantly improved in the past 20 years, with high success rates.
Patients report a comfort level that is greater than with any other restorative technique.
Successful replacement of a missing or extracted tooth by an implant is a major advancement in dentistry. Implants of various types have been used in dentistry for a long time, but the pioneering work of a Dr. Branemark resulted in widespread acceptance of the technique of implantology. He popularized endosseous implants in the shape of cylinders. When inserted into the bone, these established a firm connection. This integration, or, osseointegration is defined as a direct attachment between bone and the surface of the implant.