What is a dental implant?
An implant replaces the part of a tooth you can't see: the root. Here's how the pieces fit together, and how it compares with the other ways of replacing teeth.
Medically reviewed by Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, implant surgeon · Updated October 2026A dental implant is a small titanium post placed into the jawbone to act as an artificial tooth root. Once it has healed and bonded with the bone, it can hold a single crown, a bridge or a denture. Implants are fixed in place and designed to look, feel and work like natural teeth.
The three parts
The Oral Health Foundation describes a dental implant as a small titanium screw placed into the jawbone. It replaces the root of a missing tooth and can support one or more replacement teeth. A finished implant tooth has three parts:
How it bonds with the bone
After the implant is placed, it's left to heal. During this time the bone grows tightly around it, a process dentists call osseointegration. The Oral Health Foundation says healing usually takes around four months. Once healed, the crown, bridge or denture is attached. In some cases a tooth can be fitted on the same day, but your dentist decides that after checking your bone.
What an implant can hold
- A single crown, to replace one tooth
- A bridge, to replace several teeth in a row
- A denture, which clips on so it doesn't slip
- A full arch of fixed teeth, on four to six implants
Read more about the types of implant treatment.
Implant, bridge or denture?
| Implant | Bridge | Denture | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Held by | The jawbone | Neighbouring teeth | Gums, clasps or adhesive |
| Fixed? | Yes | Yes | No, removable |
| Affects other teeth? | No | Neighbours are usually reshaped | Clasps rest on them |
| Surgery? | Yes, minor | No | No |
| On the NHS? | Usually not | Yes, when clinically needed | Yes |
The NHS describes implants as a fixed alternative to removable dentures, and notes that they are usually only available privately.
How long implants last
The Oral Health Foundation calls implants a well-established treatment that can last many years with good care. It also says there's no lifetime guarantee: plaque around an implant can cause an infection called peri-implantitis. Daily cleaning and regular check-ups make the biggest difference. See looking after implants.
Common questions
Is an implant a false tooth?
Not exactly. The implant itself is the artificial root under the gum. The visible tooth on top is a crown (or a bridge or denture) attached to it.
Can an implant replace more than one tooth?
Yes. Two or more implants can support a bridge, and four to six can hold a full arch of teeth. The Oral Health Foundation says implants can replace one tooth, several teeth or a full set.
Do implants feel like real teeth?
They're designed to look, feel and function like natural teeth. Because they're fixed into the bone, they don't move like a denture can.
Sources
- Oral Health Foundation — Understanding dental implants
- NHS — Dental treatments (implants, bridges, dentures)
Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.
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