Implants: Implants are a good solution for anyone healthy enough to have adequate bone to support them. An implant consists of an artificial root surgically anchored in the jaw, which is then capped with a crown. Implants are meant to be permanent, natural looking and feeling replacements for missing teeth, and they do not require support from the adjacent teeth. They enable you to bite and chew food in a completely normal way. In some cases, implants can also anchor a bridge so that the patient has a fixed denture, rather than a partial removable type, and that added security can make a huge difference in how comfortable a denture wearer may feel smiling, laughing or eating in public.

Whether you need one implant or several, the process is the same. For a patient to be a candidate for implants, he or she must be in good general health, have adequate bone in the jaw to accept the implant, be prepared for a process that will take at least 6 months to complete, and be committed to regular dental hygiene visits.