A dental implant is a small titanium post placed in the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. Once it's bonded with the bone, a crown, bridge or full set of teeth is fixed on top. Because it's anchored in the bone, it stays in place when you eat and talk, which is where dentures often let people down.
Implants also help keep the jawbone from shrinking, which is what changes the shape of the face after teeth are lost.
