Dental Implants

Dental implants are like “bionic teeth” that act as tooth root substitutes.

They are a unique way to replace missing teeth because they function as an independent system and do not rely on adjacent teeth for support of replacement teeth. This helps to save adjacent teeth.

Dental implants are tiny titanium screws surgically placed into the jawbone where teeth are missing. The bone bonds with the titanium in a process called osseointegration.

Small posts (called abutments) are attached to the dental implants to provide a strong and stable foundation for replacement teeth (crowns, bridges, partials, and/ or dentures).

In addition, dental implants can help preserve facial structure by preventing the bone deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing.

Drs. Craddock and Godat are periodontists and dental implant surgeons.