Do you know anyone who has had a dental implant? You may know someone who has had this dental procedure done, but you don't know that they have had it done, because it looks so natural. A dental implant is basically a replacement tooth (or teeth) that you can have put in instead of a bridge or crown. A titanium post is inserted in the tooth socket right into the jaw where it fuses with the bone forming a permanent bond. On top of the titanium post, a replacement tooth is cemented or secured. If you think that you might be a good candidate for an implant read on:

Who can get a dental implant? If you are healthy and you have a healthy gum line and no significant bone loss you might be a good candidate. The dental implant procedure is usually performed under a general or local anesthesia, so you would need to be healthy enough to undergo this minor surgery. It is also important that the patient is willing to take care of the tooth (or teeth) once it is implanted.

Who can put in a dental implant? It is generally recommended that a maxillofacial surgeon or a periodontist performs the implant procedure with a prosthodontist making the replacement tooth. Just a note: The ADA does not offer certification in implants, so if you find a dentist that says he is certified in dental implant procedures, you know that it is not an ADA certification.

How long will it take? Some procedures take more than one session spaced a few months or weeks apart. But, most of the time you can have your implants placed in one day. Only when you need significant gum line reconstruction do you have to wait.

What is recovery like? Your mouth will be sore for about 7 to 10 days and then healing may take anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months.

What will it cost? The cost is based again, on the complexity of the procedure and the number of teeth involved. It may cost you anywhere from just over $1000 to over $20.000.