As a result of tooth trauma or gum disease, millions of people have one or more missing teeth. Fortunately, missing teeth can be permanently replaced by using dental implants. Whether one tooth or several teeth are missing, dental implants allow artificial teeth to become permanent fixtures within a patient's mouth.

Essentially, a dental implant restoration is composed of the implant, which replaces the root portion of a tooth and a prosthetic tooth (crown) that replaces the top portion of the tooth. An intermediate component called an abutment is usually placed between the implant and the prosthetic tooth.

Dental implants are small titanium screws that are placed in the jaw bone and serve as an artificial root for the placement of a prosthetic tooth in the mouth. The size and length of the implant will vary depending on the amount and location of available bone within the mouth.

The artificial tooth is made in a laboratory to meet the specific needs of individual patients, and it is secured to the implant or abutment with the use of a screw or cement.