A dental implant is a small titanium fixture that serves as a replacement of the root portion of a missing natural tooth. Dental implants are placed in the bone and functions as an anchor for the replacement tooth. Once the replacement tooth is placed, the dental implant looks, feels, and restores chewing function and esthetics to what it once was before you had a missing tooth. It is considered the most natural looking and longest lasting replacement. All this is done without having to attach any of the adjacent teeth. -- MissingTeeth.org