A dental implant is a titanium post placed in the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth, topped with a crown. Implants are the most durable way to replace a tooth. Whether you are a candidate depends on your bone, your gums and your general health, and that is decided from an X-ray.
A dental implant is a titanium screw that functions as a prosthetic device to replace a missing tooth.
In other words, a dental implant is a medical-grade titanium screw placed in the patient’s mouth to replace the root of a missing tooth. It holds the abutment where the crown is cemented after the healing process known as “osseointegration.” We only use FDA-approved dental implants.
Implants can replace one tooth or many. They can carry an implant-supported bridge for three or more teeth, and can also anchor a hybrid denture — the implant-supported denture widely known as All-on-4.
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What is a dental implant?
A small titanium post that a surgeon places into the jawbone, where the root of your missing tooth used to be. Once the bone grows around it, it holds a crown, a bridge or a denture.
Is the implant the tooth you see?
No. The implant replaces the root. What you see is the crown, a separate piece attached on top, usually through a connector called an abutment. Three parts in total: implant, abutment, crown.
Why titanium?
Because bone attaches to it. The process is called osseointegration, and it’s what makes an implant behave like a root instead of a screw sitting in a hole.
How is an implant different from a bridge?
A bridge is anchored to the two teeth beside the gap, which means grinding down healthy teeth. An implant stands on its own and doesn’t touch the neighbors.
Can an implant replace more than one tooth?
Yes. Several implants can carry a bridge, and a full arch can be carried by a small number of implants. Which arrangement fits you is a planning decision, not a catalog choice.
Are all implants the same quality?
No. Brands differ in surface treatment, connection design and the long-term data behind them. Top Dental Care works with several implant systems rather than a single brand, chosen case by case — all FDA-approved and with distribution in the United States.
What makes someone a good candidate?
Enough bone to hold the implant, healthy gums, and general health that allows for a minor surgical procedure. Age by itself is not a disqualifier.
I smoke. Does that matter?
Yes, and it’s one of the few risk factors with strong evidence behind it. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis in the Journal of Dentistry found smoking significantly associated with early implant failure, particularly in the upper jaw, and concluded that quitting is key to reducing that risk. It won’t automatically rule you out, but your dentist needs to know. Source: Fan YY, Li S, Cai YJ, et al. Smoking in relation to early dental implant failure. J Dent. 2024;151:105396. PMID 39393606.
I have diabetes. Can I still get implants?
Often, yes — if it’s well controlled. A 2026 systematic review in BMC Oral Health covering 54 studies reported implant survival in diabetic patients often above 90–95%, with well-controlled diabetes (HbA1c at or below 7%) frequently producing outcomes comparable to non-diabetic patients. Poorly controlled diabetes (HbA1c above 8%) was consistently linked to worse outcomes, including more bone loss around the implant. Source: Shahi S, Jalali P, Jabbari S, Qarebigloo A. Dental implant outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus: a systematic review. BMC Oral Health. 2026;26(1):1277. PMID 42177496.
I was told I do not have enough bone. Is that the end of it?
Not necessarily. There are grafting and bone augmentation techniques, and there are shorter implants designed for reduced bone height. Both change the plan and the timeline, and both have to be assessed from a scan.
Do short implants work as well?
They work, with a small trade-off. A 2026 meta-analysis in BMC Oral Health pooled eight studies of short implants (6 mm or less) and found a ten-year survival rate of 91.2% at the patient level and 93.7% at the implant level, with average bone loss around the implant of 0.277 mm over ten years. The same analysis found standard-length implants survived at a significantly higher rate at ten years. Short implants are a good option when bone height is limited, not a shortcut. Source: Ten-year outcomes of short dental implants (≤ 6 mm): a systematic review and sensitivity meta-analysis. BMC Oral Health. 2026. PMID 42226287.
I have had gum disease. Does that change anything?
It matters. Gum disease has to be treated and stable before implants go in, and it changes how closely you’ll be monitored afterward.
Is there an age limit?
Not at the top end. At the younger end, implants usually aren’t placed until jaw growth is finished.
Does it hurt?
The placement is done under local anesthetic, so you shouldn’t feel pain during it. Soreness afterward is normal and manageable.
How long does the surgery take?
It depends entirely on how many implants and whether grafting is involved. A single straightforward implant is a short appointment; a full arch is not.
What is a surgical guide?
A template made from your scan that tells the surgeon exactly where and at what angle to place the implant. Top Dental Care makes these in-house.
Why does it take months between the implant and the final crown?
Because the bone has to grow around the implant before it can carry chewing load — a process that usually takes around four months, though some cases need longer healing time depending on the patient. Rushing that step is how implants fail.
What is immediate loading?
Placing a temporary tooth on the implant right away instead of waiting. Top Dental Care offers immediate loading when the case conditions allow it. Immediate loading is always a temporary restoration — never the final one; the definitive restoration comes later, once healing is complete.
Do you make the crown on site?
Yes. Top Dental Care has its own dental laboratory, with a sintering furnace and zirconia finishing done in-house. For a patient who traveled, that’s the difference between an adjustment made the same day and one that costs another trip.
Can an implant fail?
Yes. Implants are highly successful but not guaranteed. Failure is usually related to infection, bone that didn’t integrate, excessive load, or risk factors like smoking and uncontrolled diabetes.
What is peri-implantitis?
Inflammation and bone loss around an implant — the equivalent of gum disease around a natural tooth. It’s common enough to take seriously: a 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis in the Journal of Dentistry, using the 2017 World Workshop criteria, found that roughly two in three adults with implants had peri-implant mucositis, and one in four had peri-implantitis. Source: The prevalence of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis based on the world workshop criteria. J Dent. 2025;160:105914. PMID 40523497.
So implants need maintenance?
Yes, and this is the part clinics tend to skip in their marketing. Implants need brushing, cleaning between them, and regular professional check-ups. Given how common peri-implant disease is, maintenance is not optional.
Do implants get cavities?
The implant and the crown can’t decay. The gum and bone around them can still get sick, which is why regular check-ups matter.
How long do implants last?
A long time, when they’re maintained. The ten-year survival figures above are the best evidence we can point to without overstating it. Anyone who tells you “implants last a lifetime” as a guarantee is selling, not informing.
Can I get implants in Costa Rica as a U.S. patient?
Yes. Top Dental Care treats patients traveling from the United States, with English-speaking staff and a dedicated international patient coordinator, Eugenio Mendoza.
What do I send before I book anything?
A recent panoramic X-ray and a short note about what’s going on. Any U.S. dental office can take the X-ray. Send it to +1 518 595 9747.
How much will it cost?
Top Dental Care doesn’t publish fixed prices, because implant cases differ too much for a number on a web page to be honest. You’ll receive a written personalized quote before you travel. Financing through CrediSalud is available.
Who will actually do my surgery?
The implant team led by Dr. Alex Wong and Dr. Adrián Wong, at the clinic in Curridabat. You’re told who’s treating you before you travel.