Dental implants are a type of dental surgery that replaces tooth roots with metal, screw-like posts and replaces damaged or missing teeth with artificial teeth that look and function much like real ones 1. Dental implant surgery can offer an alternative to dentures or bridgework that doesn’t fit well and can offer an option when a lack of natural teeth roots don’t allow building denture or bridgework tooth replacements 1. The procedure involves several steps and may require several months to complete 1. The major benefit of implants is solid support for your new teeth, which requires the bone to heal tightly around the implant 1. Risks associated with dental implant surgery are rare but may include infection at the implant site, injury or damage to surrounding structures, nerve damage, and sinus problems 1.