What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is a small titanium screw placed into the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. Once the bone fuses to it — a process called osseointegration — a crown is attached on top. The result looks, functions, and lasts like a natural tooth.

Three parts, no moving pieces: the implant (the root), the abutment (the connector), and the crown (the visible tooth). When all three are placed correctly, the implant behaves as if it had always been part of your mouth.

Modern implants have been used for over 50 years. Long-term studies show 95–98% survival at 10 years and routine 25+ year function with good hygiene. They do not decay, do not need root canals, and do not require reshaping adjacent teeth the way a bridge does.

The implant body. A medical-grade titanium screw, typically 8–14 mm long and 3–6 mm wide, placed surgically into the jawbone. Titanium is chosen because bone cells grow directly onto its surface — a property no other metal shares at the same scale.

The abutment. A small connector that screws into the implant and protrudes through the gum. It is the only part you might see in a mirror before the final crown is bonded. We use zirconia abutments when esthetics matter — they avoid the gray shadow titanium can cast through thin gum tissue.

The crown. The visible tooth. Our standard is full-contour zirconia: indistinguishable from a natural tooth, biocompatible, and covered by a lifetime warranty against fracture or wear.

Osseointegration is the biological process where living bone cells migrate directly onto the surface of the titanium implant and lock it in place. It was discovered accidentally in 1952 by a Swedish researcher who found he could not remove titanium chambers from rabbit femurs after a few months — the bone had fused to them.

The process takes 8–14 weeks in the lower jaw and 12–18 weeks in the upper jaw, where bone density is lower. During that window, the implant is left undisturbed under the gum. Once integration is complete, the bond is mechanically stronger than the original tooth root.

We use the UCLA Vampire Implant Protocol on every placement — your own platelet-rich plasma is layered onto the implant before insertion, which accelerates integration by 30–40% and dramatically reduces inflammation in the first 72 hours.

A single tooth. One implant, one crown. The most common case. We do these in two visits spread across about 4 months — one to place, one to crown.

Several teeth in a row. Two implants can support a 3- or 4-unit bridge, avoiding the need to crown healthy teeth on either side.

A full arch. Six implants can support 12+ teeth — what we call All-on-6. The full set of teeth is bolted in. No adhesive, no removal, no slipping.

A traditional bridge requires us to grind down the healthy teeth on either side of the gap. Those teeth become permanently weaker. About 30% will need a root canal within 10 years from the trauma of being reshaped. An implant leaves neighboring teeth completely untouched.

Dentures sit on the gums. Without a root to stimulate it, the jawbone underneath gradually resorbs — you lose roughly 25% of bone width in the first year alone. Five years later, dentures stop fitting and need relining or replacement. Implants stop that bone loss because they act like a real root.

The trade-off is upfront time. An implant takes 3–4 months from start to crown. A bridge can be done in two weeks. We think the longer timeline is worth it — patients who choose implants in their 50s rarely need to revisit the decision in their 70s.

A single implant at 5D Smiles is $3,500 all-inclusive — that is the consult, the 3D CBCT scan, the implant, the abutment, and the final zirconia crown. There are no add-on fees once the treatment plan is signed. Full-arch (All-on-6) starts at $26,000 per arch with the bone graft included.

Long-term studies put 10-year implant survival at 95–98%. The implant body itself routinely lasts 25+ years; the zirconia crown carries a lifetime warranty against fracture or wear at our practice. Most patients never need to think about it again after the final crown is bonded.

The biggest variable in longevity is hygiene. Implants do not decay, but the gum and bone around them can become inflamed if not cleaned properly — a condition called peri-implantitis. We teach you exactly how to clean around them at the final delivery appointment.