Dental implant (also known as an endosseous implant or fixture) is a surgical component that interfaces with the bone of the jaw or skull to support a dental prosthesis such as a crown, bridge, denture, facial prosthesis or to act as an orthodontic anchor.

Dental implant surgery is usually an outpatient surgery performed in stages: Your damaged tooth is removed. Your jawbone is prepared for surgery, a process that may involve bone grafting. After your jawbone heals, a dental implant is placed in your jawbone. After the healing process is complete then your implant is ready for restoring crown, bridges or integrating the complete dentures.

Because implants fuse to your jawbone, they provide stable support for artificial teeth. Dentures and bridges mounted to implants won’t slip or shift in your mouth an especially important benefit when eating and speaking. This secure fit helps the dentures and bridges as well as individual crowns placed over implants feel more natural than conventional bridges or dentures.