What Is a Dental Implant?

Here's a common misunderstanding worth clearing up first: a dental implant is not the white, tooth-shaped part you can see. That visible part is the replacement tooth. The implant itself sits hidden underneath, inside the jawbone — and that hidden part is exactly what makes the whole thing work. The video at the top of this page, a five-minute explainer on how dental implants work, puts it plainly: the implant is usually a cylindrical or tapered post made of titanium, placed surgically into the jawbone. Everything else follows from that.

Myth: it's just a screw holding a fake tooth

Not quite — and the difference matters. A finished implant restoration has three parts working together. At the bottom is the implant post itself, anchored in the jawbone where the root of the missing tooth used to be. On top of it sits a connector piece, and fixed to that is the crown, the part shaped and coloured to look like a natural tooth. So when people point at a smile and say "that's an implant," they're really looking at the crown; the implant is the foundation doing the holding, out of sight. That's also why an implant is planned differently from simply filling a gap — as our guide to root canal treatment shows, dentists prefer to save a natural tooth where they reasonably can; an implant enters the conversation when a tooth is already missing or cannot be saved.

Fact: the post actually fuses with your bone

This is the genuinely clever part. After the titanium post is placed in the jawbone, healing does something no glue or screw thread could: the bone gradually grows onto and fuses with the surface of the post, a process called osseointegration. The explainer video uses exactly that word — as you heal, the implant fuses with your natural jawbone. Once that fusion has happened, the post behaves much more like a natural tooth root than like a piece of hardware, which is why the crown on top can be used for ordinary biting and chewing. Because fusion takes time, implant treatment is usually staged rather than finished in a single visit; this site's dental implant procedure video is even labelled a two-stage procedure, which gives you a fair picture of how the work is commonly split.

So how does it compare with a bridge or dentures?

All three replace missing teeth, but they hold on in different ways. A bridge is fixed in place too, yet it relies on the neighbouring teeth for support, which usually means those teeth have to be shaped to carry it. Dentures rest on the gums and are taken out for cleaning. An implant, by contrast, is anchored in the bone itself and doesn't depend on the teeth either side of the gap. None of the three is automatically "best" — cost, the health of the jawbone and remaining teeth, and your own priorities all feed into the choice, and that judgement belongs to a dentist who has examined you and seen your X-rays.

Afterwards: it still needs looking after

An implant can't decay the way a natural tooth can, but the gum and bone around it can still become inflamed if plaque is left to build up, so daily cleaning and regular dental check-ups remain part of the deal. Treat it like a tooth you intend to keep — because that's precisely the point of having one placed.

MedicalVideos.com has published trusted medical videos since 2007. The site was founded by Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, MD, PhD — physician and researcher.

Educational only — this article is general information about dental implants, not dental advice and not a diagnosis. If you are missing a tooth or considering an implant, see your own dentist, who can examine you, review your X-rays, and advise whether an implant or another option suits you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a dental implant the same as a crown?

No. The implant is the titanium post placed in the jawbone. The crown is the tooth-shaped part fixed on top of it, via a small connector. The two work together, but they are different parts of the restoration.

Why is the implant made of titanium?

Titanium is used because bone can fuse directly with its surface as you heal — the process called osseointegration described in the video on this page. That fusion is what anchors the post firmly enough to support a replacement tooth.

Does getting an implant happen in one appointment?

Usually not. Because the post needs time to fuse with the jawbone, treatment is commonly carried out in stages — placing the post first and fitting the final crown later, once healing has progressed. Your dentist will set out the sequence planned for you.

Can anyone have a dental implant?

Not automatically. The jawbone needs to be healthy and substantial enough to hold the post, and your general health and gum condition are assessed as part of planning. If an implant isn't suitable, a bridge or denture may be recommended instead — your dentist can explain the options in your case.