A dental implant is a titanium cylinder which is placed surgically into the jawbone to substitute for a missing tooth and its root. Dental implants come in many shapes and sizes and for various purposes. The endosseous (in the bone) cylinder is the most commonly used in our office in Clemmons, North Carolina.

A dental implant can be used to replace a single tooth. This is accomplished by fabricating a crown or "cap" and attaching it to the dental implant "root".

Multiple missing teeth can be replaced by having two or more dental implants support a non-removable bridge. This type of replacement can be used for two or more teeth. This method can be used to replace all 12 teeth in the dental arch.

Those of you who have complete dentures can benefit by having dentures that "snap" onto dental implants. This not only provides a stable base to bite down on, but also keeps the dentures from "floating-up" or "dropping-down". Dentures of this type are supported totally by the dental implants and not by the gums.

Dental implants have provided the dentist and their patients a technique that makes tooth replacement functional and comfortable. The person who had no support for their denture can now chew comfortably and confidently. The individual who did not want a removable appliance can now have a fixed prosthesis.