A dental implant can be likened to a root of a tooth. It is made of titanium or titanium alloys. Dental implants are inserted into the jaw bone by dental specialists such as a Maxillo Facial Surgeon or a Periodontist.
Dental implants are used to support various different types of teeth such as single implant crowns, fixed implant bridges, clip-on implant dentures etc. The quality of life of patients with dental implants has greatly improved due to the increased confidence people have in their new dental implant teeth. This is so because the teeth are never loose and function as close to their natural teeth. Dental implants are the closest to natural teeth in appearance and function.
The dentist that is involved in the planning of dental implants is a Prosthodontist. A Prosthodontist is primarily a dentist who has had an additional 4 years of post graduate training full time at University. A Prosthodontist is a diagnostic and treatment planning expert who always deal with complex dental reconstructions. The Prosthodontist may be likened to an "Architect" who draws the plan for dental implant treatment and also is the "Interior Designer" who restores the implant construction. The surgeon (Periodontist or Maxillo Facial Surgeon) may be likened to a "Builder" who surgically places the implant placement into the bone.