Dental implants are not what people think they are. If you think you can plant a tooth seed and grow a new tooth, you will win the Nobel Prize. So what is a dental implant? It is a titanium implant that is placed in the alveolar bone, then after a healing period of about two months, it grows into the alveolar bone, then a matching, very delicate, tight-fitting post is attached to the implant, and finally a denture is made on top of the post. The denture can be a porcelain tooth or a removable denture that is very realistic to your own teeth. The latter is often used when the patient has a full removable denture, but it is not stable due to the patient’s low alveolar bone. In this case, if 2-4 implants are placed on a single jaw, the dentures can be worn steadily. When a dental implant patient is seen, the doctor checks to see if there is enough bone in the alveolar bone. This is like planting a tree, there must be enough soil in the ground, otherwise the tree will fall. So the doctor will put a reference to take a panoramic picture of the mouth. Also check for the most common forms of periodontal disease and tobacco addiction. Periodontal disease can spread inflammation to the implant, causing it to loosen and fall out. Smokers are also a major cause of dental implant loss. There are also other conditions. The dental implant procedure is not as scary as some people may think. Generally speaking, it is similar to a tooth extraction procedure. Under full local anesthesia, a very precise hole is drilled in the alveolar bone and the implant is placed. Of course, some people may have some defective bone, which may leave some of the implant exposed. In this case, the surgeon will add some bone powder and a powder capping film. This allows the entire implant to be encapsulated in the bone tissue so that it can grow more firmly. Of course, there are more complicated cases of bone deficiency that require consultation with the doctor. Another major concern is whether it is carcinogenic. The materials used in dental implants have not been found to be carcinogenic to date. As for the longevity of dental implants, if the patient uses them properly and pays attention to oral hygiene. If the patient follows the doctor’s instructions and comes back for regular checkups and care, the implant will last for a long time. Dental implants and their components are very delicate, tight and well-made. Therefore, they are more expensive. Compared with other dentures, the biggest advantage of dental implants is that they do not involve, do not rely on adjacent teeth, do not grind adjacent teeth, do not cause damage to other teeth, bear the chewing force alone, and are more beautiful. Therefore, it is known as a third set of teeth for human beings.