The What

Dental Implants are titanium fixtures, that look like little screws. These are generally made out of an alloy of primarily titanium and a few other metals. There are also Zirconia based (Ceramic) Implants, which have been used in Europe and some surgeons have utilized them successfully in the US as well. However, due to the lack of long-term data (as these are fairly new products) Dr.Akmal has chosen not to utilize them until enough research has been done to his satisfaction. The FDA has approved over 60  manufacturers of Dental Implants, and as such, you don't really need to spend the energy to try and figure out the specific type you should use. That is the job of your Periodontist. The research between the current FDA approved implants has not shown any implant to be superior to another (despite claims by the manufacturers). Dr.Akmal's decision on the choice of implants is based, on the longevity of the manufacturers, success rates, amount of research done at the company, current research studies, along with anecdotal evidence from his fellow surgeons. 

The Implant acts like an anchor in your jaw similar to the root of a tooth. Many things can be attached to this anchor, such as teeth, bridges, partial dentures, full dentures etc.