CentralNotice Dental implant From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation , search Dental implant Intervention ICD-9-CM 23.5 - 23.6 MeSH D003757 A dental implant (also known as an endosseous implant or fixture ) is a surgical component that interfaces with the bone of the jaw or skull to support a dental prosthesis such as a crown , bridge , denture , facial prosthesis or to act as an orthodontic anchor . The basis for modern dental implants is a biologic process called osseointegration where materials, such as titanium , form an intimate bond to bone. The implant fixture is first placed, so that it is likely to osseointegrate, then a dental prosthetic is added. A variable amount of healing time is required for osseointegration before either the dental prosthetic (a tooth, bridge or denture) is attached to the implant or an abutment is pla...