GD9 CTW fileÒ  Medical12, Ö Most people likely don't know that dental implants are becoming more and more popular in our world today. In fact, more than half of the likely candidates for this kind of surgery are unaware that this type of treatment exists. Who are these potential candidates? The largest group is composed of those who wear dentures, especially those whose "false teeth" are loose or don't fit well. A second group consists of teenagers who never smile because they have missing teeth in need of replacement. A quite sizable third group is composed of those who have had surgery to remove jawbone cancer. The history of implant surgery for people with these problems goes back about thirty years. There are two major types of implants, both being comprised of inert materials that are biocompatible with the human system. One type is called the endosteal implant, or root-form implant, and it is implanted into the jawbone as an artificial tooth root. Once solidly anchored in a bone, an implant can be much stronger than a natural tooth. The second type is known as a sub-periosteal implant and fits directly across the surface of the upper or lower jawbone. The sub-periosteal implant is normally used on patients who do not have adequate bone for a root-form implant. First, a specially designed metal meshwork is fitted over the jawbone; this then serves as an anchor for the implant. Implant surgeons report that patients almost always have a preference for implants over bridges or dentures.