An implant is an artificial root that replaces the natural root of a missing tooth. Implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth, several missing teeth, a whole jaw of missing teeth, or to stabilise a loose denture. Implants are often the first choice when replacing a missing tooth.
A radiograph (x-ray) of a patient who has an implant to replace a front tooth.
This patient had lost most of her teeth in the upper jaw and was unhappy with her existing denture as it was loose and the appearance was unsatisfactory. Only two of the remaining teeth could be kept. Six implants were placed to allow her teeth to be replaced so that she could smile and chew comfortably without having to wear a removable denture.