A dental implant is a prosthetic replacement for a missing tooth. Natural teeth consist of the crown and the root. The crown is the visible section that is covered with white enamel. Supporting the crown is the tooth root which extends into the jawbone. The root is the part of the tooth that is effectively replaced by an implant. There are commonly three parts to what is described as an implant – the implant device itself (which is inserted directly into the bone); the abutment – the piece that connects the implant device to the third part – the overlying crown or denture.

Implants can be used to replace a single tooth, several adjacent teeth, all missing teeth in a jaw, or to support a removable or fixed denture.  The number of implants being placed will depend on the final restoration and the amount of bone available for the implant.