Implant (medicine)

Implant (medicine)

An implant in medicine is a medical device manufactured to replace a missing biological structure, support a damaged biological structure, or enhance an existing biological structure. Medical implants are man-made devices, in contrast to a transplant, which is a transplanted biomedical tissue. The surface of implants that contact the body might be made of a biomedical material such as titanium, silicone, or apexum.

Types of medical implants

There are several types of medical implants, which are usually inserted into the body tissue for functional or cosmetic reasons. Some of these include:

• Orthopedic implants: These are used to support, or replace bones or joints.
• Dental implants: These are root devices, usually made of titanium, used in dentistry to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth.
• Breast implants: These are medical devices implanted under the breast tissue or chest muscle to increase breast size or to rebuild breast tissue after mastectomy or other damage to the breast.
• Contraceptive implants: These are hormone-releasing implants that are placed into the arm to prevent pregnancy.
• Cochlear implants: These are electronic medical devices that replace the function of the damaged inner ear.

Risks and complications

Like all medical procedures, there are potential risks and complications associated with medical implants. These can include infection, implant failure, and the body's rejection of the implant. In some cases, the implant may need to be removed or replaced.

See also

• Biocompatibility
• Prosthesis
• Transplant (medicine)