A natural tooth is comprised of two distinct sections: the crown, which is the visible tooth you see above the gum, and the root that is hidden under the gum and inside the jaw bone.

The root is responsible for holding the natural tooth in place.

When a person is missing a tooth, the dentist must decide how to re-create the crown portion, and choose the best method to hold it in place. Dental implants were created for this purpose.

Dental implants are metallic screw-shaped cylinders, which are placed securely into the jawbone to replace the root and secure a replacement tooth.