A dental implant is a surgical component that is placed in the jaw to support a dental prosthesis such as a crown, bridge, denture, or facial prosthesis. It is made of titanium, a metal that has the propriety to form a very strong bond with the bone (a biological process called osseointegration). Once the implant is placed and the bond formed, a dental prosthetic is added. The implant is placed in the natural hole left after the extraction of a tooth, or in a specially drilled hole, depending on the situation.

PROS: Once installed, it will never move. The procedure is technically simple and presents very little risk.

CONS: None. It may be a costly procedure, but you do not really have a choice, unless you are fine with missing teeth.

AFTER: Brush your teeth carefully, avoid biting really hard stuff, and follow your doctor's advice.

RISKS: There is no specific risk attached to this procedure. Just bear in mind that any surgical intervention can have undesirable side effects (pain, infection...). Such an occurrence is unpredictable, and varies from patient to patient.

LIMITATIONS: Not everybody can receive an implant. Your jaw must have a sufficient bone density (shown by an osteodensitometry image). If your bone density is too low, the implant will not bond properly, and will ultimately fall.