If you have lost a tooth or are facing an extraction, you have probably heard the word implant more than once. Here is what a dental implant actually is, and why so many patients at Cambie Dental choose one over other options.
The Three Parts of an Implant
A dental implant is really a small system of three pieces working together. First is the implant post itself, a tiny titanium or ceramic screw that takes the place of your natural tooth root and sits within the jawbone. On top of that goes a connector called an abutment, and finally a custom crown that is shaped and shaded to match your surrounding teeth.
Because the post lives inside the bone rather than resting on the gum, an implant is the only tooth replacement that recreates the full structure of a natural tooth. That is what gives it the stability people notice the moment they bite down on something firm again.
Why the Jawbone Matters
The reason an implant lasts is a process called osseointegration, where living bone grows around and fuses to the titanium surface over several weeks. Once that bond forms, the implant is anchored the way a root would be, and it can handle the normal forces of chewing without loosening.
This bond also protects the health of your jaw. When a tooth is missing, the bone underneath it slowly shrinks from lack of use. An implant keeps that area stimulated, helping preserve the shape of your jaw and the support it gives to your face over the long‑term.
How an Implant Feels Day to Day
Once healed, most patients tell us they forget which tooth is the implant. You brush and floss it like any other tooth, it does not come out at night, and it lets you eat the foods you enjoy without a second thought.
At our Vancouver clinic we plan every implant around your individual bite and gum line, so the finished crown blends in rather than standing out. The goal is not just a replacement tooth, but one that disappears into your smile.
