An implant is more than a post. This guide explains the parts, the materials and the main designs, so you can follow what your dentist proposes.
Key points
- An implant has three main parts: the post in the bone, the abutment that connects it and the restoration you see.
- The restoration can be a single crown, an implant bridge, a fixed full-arch set or an implant-held denture.
- A fixed restoration cannot be taken out at home, while a removable one clips on and can be taken out to clean, though clips can wear.1
- For a single tooth, a review of 26 studies found 96.8 percent of implants supporting single crowns still in place after five years.3
- Ask what each part is made of, and ask for a record of the parts used, so that any future dentist can maintain the implant.
When people talk about dental implants they usually mean the whole result: the tooth you see, the connector and the post in the bone. Each part has a job, and the way they are combined decides what the implant can replace. This article explains the parts and the main designs. For the step-by-step treatment, see our guide to the implant procedure.
The post, or fixture
The post is the part that sits in the jawbone and acts as the root. It is shaped like a small screw and has a surface designed to encourage bone to grow against it. The most common material is titanium, which the body generally tolerates and to which bone can bond. After the post is placed, it needs about three to six months for the bone to bond, and longer if a graft was needed.1
Some patients ask about ceramic (zirconia) posts, which are tooth-coloured. They are an alternative that some dentists use, and they suit certain cases. Ask your dentist what they use, why, and what evidence supports it for your situation, because the long-term research on titanium is much larger.
The abutment
The abutment is the connector. It attaches to the post, passes through the gum and carries the visible tooth. Abutments can be made of metal or ceramic and can be straight or angled, depending on how the post sits in the bone. The abutment is also the part that is held to the post by a small screw, and NHS guidance notes that screws and other parts can loosen or wear and may need repair or replacement.2
The restoration: crown, bridge or denture
The restoration is the part you see. Its design depends on how many teeth are missing.
- A single crown replaces one tooth and is carried by one post.
- An implant bridge replaces several teeth and is carried by two or more posts, so the teeth on either side of the gap are not shaped.1
- A fixed full-arch set replaces a whole jaw of teeth and is carried by several posts.
- An implant-held denture clips onto posts so that you can take it out to clean it, and the clips can wear out.1
You can read about each of these on our pages for a single tooth implant, an implant bridge and full mouth implants.
Fixed or removable?
A fixed restoration is attached to the posts and cannot be taken out at home. A removable one clips on and can be taken out. Each has trade-offs. Fixed teeth feel more like natural teeth, but cleaning underneath takes effort and only the dentist can remove them. Removable teeth are easier to clean and repair, but the clips can wear. A large review of studies found that implant loss was lower with fixed than with removable sets, and in the lower jaw, fixed sets on four implants lost more implants than sets on five or more.5 Your dentist plans from your bone and your bite, and some jaws cannot take more posts.
What the research says about each design
For a single tooth, a review of 26 studies found that 96.8 percent of implants supporting single crowns were still in place after five years.3 For bridges, a review of 32 studies found 95.6 percent of implants supporting bridges still in place after five years and 93.1 percent after ten, while the covering of the bridge chipped in 13.5 percent and a screw or connector loosened in 5.3 percent over five years.4 That means the post tends to last longer than the visible parts, which can need repair.
Materials for the visible tooth
The crown or bridge is made by a dental laboratory. Common materials include ceramic, ceramic fused to metal, and zirconia. In the review of single crowns, metal-ceramic crowns lasted better than all-ceramic over five years, 95.4 percent against 91.2 percent, but materials and methods change, so ask what is advised for your tooth and your bite.3 Front teeth, where appearance matters most, and back teeth, which take the heaviest biting, may call for different choices.
Choosing between designs
Your choice depends on:
- how many teeth are missing and where;
- how much bone you have, which a 3D scan shows;
- the health of your gums and the teeth next to the gap;
- whether you grind your teeth, because grinding can overload implants;
- how you feel about removable and fixed teeth.
If you are not sure whether implants are right at all, read when a dental implant is advised, and see our complete guide to dental implants.
Screw-retained or cemented crowns
A crown can be attached to the abutment in two ways. A screw-retained crown is held by a small screw that is reached through a hole in the crown, which is then covered with filling material. A cemented crown is fixed to the abutment with dental cement.
Each has advantages. A screw-retained crown can be removed for repair or cleaning without damaging it, while a cemented crown can be shaped to hide the screw position and may look slightly more natural in some situations. Dentists choose on the position of the implant, the bite and the need for access. If you have a cemented crown, the dentist should take care to remove excess cement, since it can irritate the gum. Ask which type you have, and note it in your record.
What the surface of the post does
The surface of an implant post is not smooth. It is treated so that bone can attach to it, and the surface design is one of the ways that different posts differ. This is part of why the bone bonds over months. Your dentist chooses a post from a system they know well, based on your bone and the position of the tooth, and you do not need to choose a brand yourself. What matters is that the dentist can tell you which system was used, so that parts can be matched later if a repair is needed.
Reading a treatment plan
A written plan may use several terms, and it helps to know them.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Post, fixture or implant | The titanium screw in the bone |
| Abutment | The connector between the post and the crown |
| Crown, bridge or denture | The visible teeth |
| Graft | Material added to build up bone |
| Sinus lift | A procedure that adds bone beneath the sinus |
| Temporary tooth | A short-term replacement while the implant heals |
| Review | A check-up after treatment |
If a term in your plan is unclear, ask the dentist to explain it in plain language before you agree.
Myths and facts about implant parts
Myth: the whole implant is one piece. An implant has a post, an abutment and a restoration, and the parts are joined by a screw or fitted as one, depending on the design.
Myth: all posts look and behave the same. Posts differ in size, shape and surface, and your dentist chooses from your bone and your bite.
Fact: the visible tooth is the part most likely to need attention. The crown or screw can wear or loosen and may need repair or replacement.2
What to ask about the parts
- What is the post made of, and what size is it?
- What is the abutment made of?
- What will the crown be made of, and why?
- Is it screw-retained or cemented?
- Will I be given a record of the parts used?
The record helps any future dentist who needs to maintain or repair the implant.
Frequently asked questions
Are all dental implants the same?
No. Posts differ in size, shape, surface and material, and restorations differ in design. Your dentist chooses from your bone, your bite and your plan.
Are titanium implants the standard?
Titanium is the most widely used and most widely studied material for implant posts. Ceramic posts exist, and the evidence for them is smaller.
Can an implant be used to hold dentures?
Yes. Implant-held dentures clip onto posts so that you can take them out to clean, and the clips can wear out.1
Why do the crown and screw sometimes need repair?
The crown can wear or loosen sooner than the post, which is why regular check-ups matter.2
Are implants compatible with other dental work?
Yes. Implants can sit alongside natural teeth, crowns, fillings and bridges. Your dentist plans around them.
Can the crown be replaced without a new post?
Often, yes, if the post is stable. The crown can be replaced when it is worn or damaged.
Can a screw-retained crown be removed?
Yes. A small screw holds it, and the dentist can remove it for repair or cleaning, which is one reason dentists sometimes prefer it.
Do I need to know the brand of my implant?
It helps. The brand, size and parts used let a future dentist match replacement parts and maintain the implant, so ask for them to be recorded.
About the author
Dr Anupam Sinha, BDS, MDS – Orthodontics. BDS (2002), KLE Vishwanath Katti Institute of Dental Sciences, Belgaum. MDS in Orthodontics (2006), SDM College of Dental Sciences, Dharwad. His thesis work won a national research award in 2005, and he holds a certification in aesthetic dentistry. He sees patients at Orion Dental Clinic in Greater Kailash 1, South Delhi. Read the full profile of Dr Anupam Sinha.
Sources
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Dental implants in restorative dentistry (patient information). https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/dental-implants-in-restorative-dentistry/
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. Dental implants (patient information). https://guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/dental-implants
- Jung RE, Pjetursson BE, Glauser R, Zembic A, Zwahlen M, Lang NP. A systematic review of the 5-year survival and complication rates of implant-supported single crowns. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2008;19(2):119-130. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18067597/
- Pjetursson BE, Thoma D, Jung R, Zwahlen M, Zembic A. A systematic review of the survival and complication rates of implant-supported fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) after a mean observation period of at least 5 years. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2012;23(Suppl 6):22-38. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23062125/
- Kern JS, Kern T, Wolfart S, Heussen N. A systematic review and meta-analysis of removable and fixed implant-supported prostheses in edentulous jaws: post-loading implant loss. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2016;27(2):174-195. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25664612/
Medically reviewed by Dr Anupam Sinha, BDS, MDS – Orthodontics, on . General information for patients from Orion Dental Clinic, last updated 23 October 2026. It is not advice for one person, so ask a dentist what suits you. To report an error, contact us.