A dental implant is an artificial tooth root thatâs surgically embedded into your jawbone. Most modern implants are screws or cylinders made of titanium, which is biocompatible, lightweight, and super-strong. The implant bonds with the bone, becoming the foundation for a new, custom-made tooth replacement called a dental crown.Â
The combination of an implant and crown looks, feels, and works like your healthy, natural teeth.Â
Implants can be used to replace a single tooth or multiple teeth. As an alternative to removable dentures, All-on-4 dental implants or individual implants can replace an entire top or bottom arch. These prosthetic teeth stay securely fixed in place, without fear of having them come loose while you eat or talk.
There are two types of dental implants:Â
RealSelf Tip: Look for a dental specialist, such as an oral surgeon or a periodontist, who has more advanced training to place your dental implant. A general dentist or prosthodontist may place the abutment and crown.
Pros
Cons
RealSelf Tip: Replacing missing teeth after experiencing tooth loss is always a good idea for your oral health. Leaving gaps allows remaining teeth to shift, which can throw off your alignment, impair your bite, and give cheeks or lips a sunken appearance.
Your price will depend on your dentistâs level of experience, how many implants you need, and a few other key factors.
You can finance your treatment with CareCredit.
The dental implant photos in our gallery have been shared by the surgeon who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.
âDental insurance rarely pays for the surgical implant placement, but it may cover part of the cost of the abutment and crown as well as bone grafting,â says Dr. Davidowitz.Â
According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, many insurers recognize the benefits of dental implants over other artificial tooth options.Â
If your insurance wonât cover it, the AAID recommends asking your insurer if you can receive an allowance toward the implants thatâs equal to the cost of a bridge or traditional dentures.
People typically opt for an implant after having a tooth extracted, due to infection or decay. If youâve had a failed root canal or apicoectomy, removing the tooth and replacing it with an implant can be more effective than trying to save it.
Youâre an ideal candidate for dental implants if:
You are not a good candidate if:
Your dentist may perform an in-depth computer diagnostic to determine whether you have enough healthy jaw bone to support the implant. If you donât, a dental bone graft procedure can fortify it. This surgery comes with three to four months of healing time, so youâll have to be patient until the bone is ready for dental implant placement.Â
Discuss any medical conditions and disclose all your current medications to your dentist, to ensure that youâre a good candidate.
Doctors on RealSelf say an implant should be placed four to six months after an extraction, with or without a bone graft. That gives the bone enough time to heal and strengthen.
Beyond six months, the underlying bone can begin to lose density, and surrounding teeth can shift into the gap left by the extracted tooth.
Getting your implant sooner rather than later can help you avoid costly orthodontic work or additional bone grafting.
How you prepare for your oral surgery can impact how well you heal. Your dentist should provide you with detailed pre-op instructions, which may include some of these preparation steps.
The entire process can take 3 to 9 months, depending on the number and type of implants you get, whether you need a bone graft first, and how your body heals.Â
Prior to your appointment youâll get dental x-rays and 3-D scans, so your provider can determine the best implantation plan.
The details of your procedures may vary, but hereâs the typical progression.
Follow your providerâs recommended treatment plan. Youâll need enough time to heal between each procedure, but not enough for the surrounding teeth to move. Some gum tissue growth over the healing cap or abutment is considered normal, but any excess tissue will have to be removed before the crown can be placed.
RealSelf Tip: In cases when the jawbone isnât thick enough or is too soft, patients usually need to start with bone graft surgery. New bone can be sourced from another location in the body, or synthetic bone material can provide the necessary support. Typically, this procedure is performed a few months before implants are placed, giving the bone time to heal.
The shot of local anesthetic is usually the only painful part of getting dental implants. After that, you should be comfortably numb.
âIf one does not need bone grafting, getting a dental implant should be no more bothersome than getting a traditional filling. You wonât need time off work to recover,â says Dr. Steven Davidowitz, a cosmetic dentist in New York City.
Patients say recovery is similar to any other kind of dental surgery, with swelling, bruising, and tenderness that can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications.Â
Salt water (saline) rinses can help cleanse the mouth and relieve pain and swelling.Â
Take it easy on the implant as you heal. âThe longer you can go without direct contact on the implant while healing is occurring, the better the chance you have of full integration,â says Dr. Scott Young, a dentist in The Woodlands, Texas.
Your dentist may suggest a soft or liquid diet. If your implant is mostly buried under your gum tissue, you can resume eating normally again in 1 to 2 weeks, once the gums have healed. If you have an abutment or temporary crown above the gums, avoid hard foods (like chips and nuts) and chewing gum for six weeks.Â
Keep the area clean throughout the healing process by practicing good oral hygiene and dental care, but donât use a sonic toothbrush, which can disturb the implant. Also avoid mouthwash and hydrogen peroxide, which can irritate healing gum tissue.
Your implants should last a lifetime with proper care, according to Dr. Davidowitz.Â
Avoid habits like chewing ice and hard candy, as well as tobacco and tooth-staining drinks like coffee and red wine.
Implants are very durable, but they may need some upkeep. Screws that come loose can be tightened and chips in the crowns can be polished. Crowns can also be replaced if they break, stain, or you want a new one for whatever reason.
If any pieces of your replacement tooth come out of your mouth, save them and see your dentist as soon as possible. Donât try to put things back together with a DIY fix.
According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, âdental implant surgery is one of the safest and most predictable procedures in dentistry.âÂ
Dental implantation has an average success rate of 95%, and providers have been performing and perfecting this procedure for over 30 years.Â
According to the FDA, all dental implants must be evaluated according to the international standards, to prove that they have an acceptable level of safety before they can be marketed and sold in the U.S. Implants undergo various tests, including one that proves it wonât cause specific complications (like irritation or allergic reaction) or adverse events.
While dental implantation is one of the most successful oral surgical procedures, watch for these rare but possible risks and side effects:
RealSelf Tip: Putting off implants when you need them has risks, too. When you lose teeth, the bone that used to surround the tooth roots starts to break downâabout a 25% decrease in the first year after you lose the tooth. Getting implants helps stimulate and stabilize the bone that supports your teeth.
If you have all your teeth and none of them need to be pulled, there may be simpler, cheaper options for you than dental implants. Ask your dentist if you might be a good candidate for crowns, bridges, or veneers instead.Â
Dentures and dental bridges are common alternatives to implants for artificial teeth. Talk with your dentist about these options.Â
âAntidepressants Linked to Tooth Implant Failure, New Study Finds.â Antidepressants Linked to Tooth Implant Failure, New Study Finds - University at Buffalo, 7 Mar. 2016.
Hong, Do Gia Khang, and Ji-Hyeon Oh. âRecent Advances in Dental Implants.â Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 5 Nov. 2017.
âWhat Are Dental Implants?â American Academy of Implant Dentistry.
âWhy Some Dental Implants Work and Others Don't.â Newsroom, 25 Oct. 2016.
Updated July 7, 2022