Dental implants are metal cylinders placed in the jaw bone underneath the gum tissue to support artificial teeth where natural teeth are missing. Unlike other types of tooth replacements, such as removable dentures or fixed bridges that are cemented to remaining teeth, dental implants are actually placed ("implanted") into the bone under the gum tissue. These implants are generally made from titanium, which is readily accepted by the body, and artificial teeth that look like natural teeth are then attached to the implants. Accepted by the American Dental Association, dental implants have been used for many years, and hundreds of thousands have been placed. Implants are actually able to fuse to the bone after placement, which means they look and function like natural teeth. This procedure has an overall success rate of around 90%, which allows me to recommend them with confidence.