Dental implants include a titanium rod which is surgically placed into the jawbone in the website of the tooth being corrected; a metal extension attached to the titanium rod when the pole has fused with the jawbone, and the prosthetic ceramic tooth that's attached to the metal extension after a cast is made of the individual' teeth so that the prosthesis can be molded to fit perfectly.

Titanium, because it is an inert metal, is the metal of choice for a dental implant. Titanium, unlike the steel used in early implants with disastrous results, does not trigger the body's rejection response, and will fuse into the jawbone with no negative side effects. A titanium based dental implant, in fact, will actually strengthen the jawbone since the stress of chewing and biting with the implant will increase the bone density.

If you are capable of getting through a tooth extraction without complications, you can probably deal with a dental implant. If, on the other hand, you have some chronic medical conditions like cardiovascular disease or diabetes; are a smoker; have gum disease; or have undergone radiation therapy on your neck or head, you'll have to be evaluated more closely to determine if a dental implant is a good idea.

The success rates of dental implants depend on the positioning of the teeth they're replacing, with a dental implant that replaces at lower front tooth using a greater chance of success than a dental implant replacing an upper back tooth.