Implants: the tooth, the root, the lab

The short answer

A dental implant is a post surgically placed in the upper or lower jaw, where it acts as an anchor for replacement teeth [S1]. Your health matters more than your age [S1]. Healing can take up to several months before replacement teeth go on [S1]. Whether an implant suits you is a licensed dentist's call after an exam.

What this is and is not

The implant is not the tooth you see. An implant system consists of an implant body and an abutment, and may include an abutment fixation screw; the replacement tooth attaches to it [S2]. Most implant systems are made of titanium or zirconium oxide [S2]. National.

What actually changes the decision

Your health. Chronic illnesses such as diabetes or leukemia may interfere with healing after surgery [S1]. National.
Smoking. Smoking may affect healing and decrease the implant's long-term success [S2]. National.
Time. There are generally three phases, and integration can take up to several months for some people [S1]. National.
Risks. Some complications end in implant failure, usually defined as looseness or loss [S2]. Listed risks include post-surgical numbness from nerve damage [S2]. Problems can be reported to the FDA through MedWatch [S2]. National.
Who places what. In Florida, supplying artificial substitutes for natural teeth is part of the legal definition of dentistry [S3]. Florida. Dental laboratory technicians and businesses are generally not licensed, according to the ADA [S4]. National.
Free-implant ads. NIDCR doesn't offer dental implants, and it says ads, emails or texts claiming otherwise are likely fraudulent [S5]. National.

What it tends to cost in Miami / South Florida

There is no clean public range. We found no dated Miami or Florida implant price from a source we can cite [S6]. Original Medicare doesn't generally cover dental items such as implants [S7]. National (federal program). Florida Medicaid's adult (21+) reimbursement list on the state's policy page covers emergency procedures and dentures; implants aren't listed there [S8]. Florida. What moves the price is on What changes the price.

Questions to ask a licensed dentist

Is my health a good fit, and does anything need treating first?
Does smoking or a condition I have change the picture?
Which brand and model of implant system would you use? (The FDA suggests keeping this for your records [S2].)
How long before the replacement tooth goes on?
Who makes the replacement tooth, and where?
What happens, and who pays, if the implant loosens or fails?
Are you licensed in Florida? (You can check yourself on the state's License Verification lookup [S9].)

Take these to a licensed dentist. Only a dentist who examines you can say whether an implant suits you.

Sources and review date

Reviewed 2026-11-01.

[S1] ADA MouthHealthy, "Implants", https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/implants. Retrieved 2026-11-01. National.
[S2] U.S. FDA, "Dental Implants: What You Should Know", https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/dental-devices/dental-implants-what-you-should-know. Retrieved 2026-11-01. National.
[S3] Florida Statutes s. 466.003, "Definitions" (2026), https://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0466/Sections/0466.003.html. Retrieved 2026-11-01. Florida.
[S4] American Dental Association, "Statement on Recent Reports of 'Veneer Technicians'" (May 14, 2024), https://www.ada.org/about/press-releases/statement-on-recent-reports-of-veneer-technicians. Retrieved 2026-11-01. National.
[S5] NIDCR, "Finding Dental Care", https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/finding-dental-care. Retrieved 2026-11-01. National.
[S6] ADA Health Policy Institute, "The Dental Care Market", https://www.ada.org/resources/research/health-policy-institute/dental-care-market. Retrieved 2026-11-01. National.
[S7] Medicare.gov, "Dental services", https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/dental-services. Retrieved 2026-11-01. National.
[S8] Florida AHCA, "Dental Services" (Medicaid policy), https://ahca.myflorida.com/medicaid/medicaid-policy-quality-and-operations/medicaid-policy-and-quality/medicaid-policy/medical-and-behavioral-health-coverage-policy/primary-and-preventive-care-policy/dental-services.html. Retrieved 2026-11-01. Florida.
[S9] Florida Department of Health, MQA Search Services, https://mqa-internet.doh.state.fl.us/MQASearchServices/Home. Retrieved 2026-11-01. Florida.