When a tooth is missing whether it be due to trauma, decay or periodontal disease, a dental implant is most often the most optimal treatment choice. A dental implant is a titanium prosthetic placed within the jaw to allow a porcelain crown or denture attachment to be placed.

A dental implant is usually the optimal treatment to replace a missing tooth because it does not compromise the structures of the adjacent teeth such as a bridge. It is a single tooth solution for a single tooth problem. Any other prosthetics such as a removable partial denture or a bridge relies on the remaining teeth for stability. This added stress over time may cause the remaining teeth to be damaged.