Dental implants explained
A dental implant replaces the root of a missing tooth and holds an artificial tooth. This page summarizes what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) say about parts, steps, benefits and risks. This page is not medical advice.
What an implant is
The FDA describes dental implants as medical devices surgically implanted into the jaw to restore a person's ability to chew or their appearance. They support artificial teeth such as crowns, bridges or dentures.
An implant system has two or three parts. The implant body goes into the jawbone where the tooth root was. The abutment usually attaches to the implant body and extends through the gums to support the artificial teeth. An abutment fixation screw is sometimes used to hold the two together. Implant bodies are usually made of titanium or zirconium oxide.
The three phases
MouthHealthy, the ADA's public site, describes the process in three phases.
- Placement: the dentist surgically places the implant in the jawbone.
- Healing: bone grows around the implant and holds it in place. Some patients wait up to several months before replacement teeth are attached. Others can have the implant and replacement teeth placed in one visit.
- Replacement teeth: for one tooth the dentist customizes a crown for size, shape, color and fit. For several teeth, custom bridges or dentures are made. A temporary crown, bridge or denture may be used until the permanent one is ready.
Benefits the FDA lists
The FDA lists these benefits: restored chewing, restored appearance, help in keeping the jawbone from shrinking, preserved health of the surrounding bone and gums, and help in keeping nearby teeth stable.
The AAP adds that missing teeth can affect appearance, chewing, speech and confidence.
Risks the FDA lists
Implants are surgery, and the FDA lists several risks. These include damage to nearby natural teeth during placement, injury to surrounding tissue such as sinus perforation, fracture of the jawbone, teeth that do not bite together normally, and numbness from nerve damage.
A loose abutment screw can make the tooth feel loose or twisting. The implant body itself can fail. The FDA names systemic infection, which may be more likely with uncontrolled diabetes, infection of the bone and gums around the implant, and delayed healing, which may be more likely in smokers. Difficulty cleaning the gums around the implant and untreated gum disease are also listed.
Who may be a candidate
The FDA says overall health affects whether you are a good candidate, how long healing takes and how long the implant may last. Your dental provider decides. MouthHealthy says general health matters more than age, that a physician may evaluate you before surgery, and that chronic illnesses such as diabetes or leukemia may interfere with healing. It also says tobacco use can slow healing.
After the implant
The FDA says to follow your provider's cleaning instructions closely and to keep regular visits. Tell your provider right away if the implant feels loose or painful. You can also report a problem to the FDA through its MedWatch program.
The FDA also advises telling providers and imaging technicians about your implants before an MRI or x-ray, because implants can distort or interfere with those images. The agency says it knows of no adverse events reported for these procedures with dental implants.
Also on this site: Questions to ask before getting dental implants · all dental implant providers by state.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Dental Implants: What You Should Know
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy: Implants
- American Academy of Periodontology: Patient FAQs
Read on November 9, 2026. Rules and advice change. If something here is out of date, the contact page is at the bottom.