Technically, a dental implant is an artificial tooth root that’s placed into your jaw bone to hold a cap or bridge. However, when most people use the term “dental implants,” they’re talking about the combination of the implant (the artificial tooth root) and the prosthetic tooth. Dental implants may be an option for people who have lost one or more teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason and want fixed teeth or who do not prefer to wear dentures.