McDowell  Dentistry
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Today, most dental implants are made of titanium. This metal has special qualities that make it useful for implants.

Titanium develops a thin film on its surface that protects it from corrosion. It is resistant to acids, salt solutions and oxygen, among other things. Titanium also is almost completely nonmagnetic. It is extremely strong for its weight.

Perhaps most important, the body does not reject titanium implants as foreign objects. When implants are placed in bone, the bone grows around the implant. The process is called osseointegration.
 

Root-Form Implants are called endosseous or endosteal implants. This means that they are placed in the bone. They look like screws, thick nails or cones, and come in various widths and lengths. A metal cylinder called an abutment is attached to the implant once it's solidly integrated into the jawbone. The abutment serves as a base for a crown, denture or bridge. For root-form implants to be successful, the bone needs to be deep enough and wide enough to provide a secure foundation.

Root-form implants can be inserted in two stages or one stage. The two-stage process is the traditional way. In this procedure, the implant is "buried" under the gum tissue in bone for three to four months. Then it is exposed during a second surgical procedure. In a single-stage procedure, the implant is placed in the bone and remains exposed in the mouth.

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