Dental implant
A titanium screw placed in the bone, taking the place of a lost tooth's root and holding a crown.
What it is
A dental implant is an artificial titanium root, placed in the jawbone where a tooth is missing. An abutment (the connecting piece) is fixed on top of it, and then the crown: the part you see and chew with.
When it is needed
When one or more teeth are missing and you want a fixed replacement that does not lean on the neighbouring teeth. The alternatives are a bridge and a removable denture; we compare them on your X-ray at the consultation.
How it works here
It starts with a consultation and a CBCT scan, which shows how much bone you have and where. If there is not enough, a bone graft comes first. Placing the implant takes under an hour, under local anaesthetic.
How long it takes
Healing into the bone usually takes three to six months. Only then is the final crown fitted.
What comes next
Good cleaning and regular check-ups keep an implant healthy for the long term. What is normal in the first days is covered in recovery after a dental implant.
Reviewed by Dr. Voinea ·
CMDR Romania · Galați University of Medicine and Pharmacy · General Dentistry