What is a Dental Implant?

You may have heard the term “dental implant,” but do you really know what it is? Teeth essentially can be thought of having two main parts: the crown, the part of the tooth that can be seen above the gum tissues, and the root, the part that is suspended in the bone by periodontal ligament (“peri” = around; “odont” = tooth) that keeps the tooth in place. A dental implant is a tooth replacement system in which an extracted tooth and its root are replaced with a new metal “root” (implant) that is typically made of titanium. The new tooth, usually made of porcelain, is then attached to the implant via a retaining screw and abutment connector.