..A Dental Implant is a substitute for a missing natural tooth root.. It is a screw shaped or cylindrical titanium alloy fixture, which is screwed or tapped into a carefully prepared socket and over time becomes bonded to the surrounding jawbone, by the attachment of bone cells. The implant has an internal thread that allows a variety of components to be attached. These components project through the gum and act as supports for crowns, bridges or dentures.