What are the most common implants? A guide to widespread medical devices

October 1, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, over three million Americans have dental implants alone. This guide delves into the crucial question: what are the most common implants used in modern medicine? We'll explore a variety of devices, their purposes, and how they improve quality of life.

Quick Summary

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the most frequently used medical implants, from dental and orthopedic devices to cardiac and cosmetic implants. It details their purpose, material compositions, and general function within the human body.

Key Points

Dental Implants: Endosteal implants are the most common type used for tooth replacement, offering a durable, long-lasting solution.
Orthopedic Implants: Joint replacements, particularly for the hip and knee, are widespread, restoring mobility for patients with arthritis or injury.
Cardiovascular Implants: Pacemakers regulate slow heartbeats, while ICDs can deliver a stronger shock for dangerously irregular rhythms, often combining functions.
Cosmetic Implants: Breast implants, available in saline and silicone, are a common cosmetic and reconstructive option, but they are not considered lifelong devices.
Sensory Implants: Cochlear implants provide sound perception for individuals with profound hearing loss by directly stimulating the auditory nerve.
Implant Materials: Key materials include titanium, cobalt-chromium alloys, ceramics, and various polymers, all chosen for their biocompatibility and specific functional properties.

Medical technology has revolutionized healthcare, and no advancement has been more impactful for restoring function and quality of life than the development of modern medical implants. These devices, made from biocompatible materials, can replace damaged joints, restore hearing, regulate heart rhythm, and more. Understanding what the most common implants are offers valuable insight into the power of today's surgical capabilities.

The Ubiquity of Dental Implants

Among the most common implants are those used in dentistry to replace missing teeth. Dental implants are small, screw-shaped posts, typically made of titanium, that are surgically placed into the jawbone to act as artificial tooth roots. These are widely popular due to their high success rates and ability to provide a permanent, natural-looking solution for tooth loss.

Types of dental implants:

Endosteal Implants: The most common type, these are placed directly into the jawbone and require sufficient bone density for support. They are the most successful and widely used type.
Subperiosteal Implants: These implants are placed on top of the jawbone, under the gum tissue, and are used for patients who lack the bone height or density needed for endosteal implants. This option avoids the need for a bone graft.

Orthopedic Implants for Mobility

Orthopedic implants are essential for repairing and replacing damaged musculoskeletal structures. Joint replacements, particularly in the hip and knee, are some of the most frequently performed orthopedic procedures. In 2021, over two million hip and knee replacements were performed in the U.S. alone.

Common orthopedic implant types include:

Joint Replacements: These prosthetics replace damaged knee, hip, shoulder, and other joints, restoring function and significantly reducing pain.
Fracture Fixation Devices: To stabilize broken bones while they heal, surgeons use internal devices such as screws, plates, and intramedullary nails.
Spinal Implants: These devices, including rods, cages, and screws, are used in spinal fusion surgery to stabilize the vertebrae.

Cardiovascular Implants for Heart Health

For patients with irregular heart rhythms, implantable devices can be life-saving. Pacemakers and defibrillators are two key examples.

Pacemakers: A small, battery-operated device implanted near the collarbone to help regulate a slow or irregular heartbeat (bradycardia). It sends electrical impulses to keep the heart beating at a regular pace.
Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators (ICDs): A more advanced device that monitors heart rhythm and can deliver a controlled electrical shock to restore a normal rhythm if it detects a dangerously fast or irregular heartbeat (tachycardia). Many modern ICDs also function as pacemakers.
Coronary Stents: Small, expandable mesh tubes placed inside a coronary artery to keep it open following a procedure like angioplasty, improving blood flow to the heart muscle.

Cosmetic and Sensory Implants

Implants are also widely used in reconstructive and cosmetic procedures to restore or enhance appearance, as well as to replace lost sensory function.

Breast Implants: One of the most common cosmetic procedures, breast implants are available in saline and silicone varieties. They are used for breast augmentation and reconstruction following mastectomy.
Intraocular Lenses (IOLs): These tiny lenses are implanted to replace the eye's natural lens during cataract surgery, restoring clear vision.
Cochlear Implants: A sophisticated electronic device that bypasses damaged parts of the inner ear to provide a sense of sound to people with profound hearing loss. The external processor sits behind the ear, while the internal component is surgically implanted.

Materials Used in Modern Implants

For an implant to function safely and effectively within the human body, it must be made from biocompatible materials. The choice of material depends heavily on the implant's purpose.

Metals: Often used for load-bearing applications, such as orthopedic and dental implants. Common metal alloys include stainless steel, titanium, and cobalt-chromium. Titanium is favored for its strength, corrosion resistance, and ability to osseointegrate, or fuse, with bone.
Polymers: High-density polyethylene is frequently used as a bearing surface in joint replacements due to its low-friction properties. Silicone is the primary material for breast implants.
Ceramics: Ceramics like alumina and zirconia are known for their durability and smooth surface, making them suitable for the articulating surfaces in hip and knee replacements.

Comparison of Common Implants


Implant Type	Primary Purpose	Common Materials	Lifespan/Durability
Dental Implants	Replace missing teeth	Titanium, zirconia	Decades, potentially a lifetime
Hip Replacement	Restore hip joint function	Metal, ceramic, plastic	15-25+ years
Knee Replacement	Replace damaged knee joint	Metal, plastic	15-20+ years
Pacemaker	Regulate heart rhythm	Titanium, specialized polymers	5-10+ years (battery replacement)
Breast Implants	Augmentation/reconstruction	Silicone or saline	Not lifelong; replacement often needed
Cochlear Implant	Provide sense of sound	Titanium, polymers, electronics	Internal device meant to last a lifetime

Conclusion: The Impact of Implant Technology

The medical implants discussed here represent a fraction of the thousands of devices designed to address a wide range of health issues. From restoring mobility and oral function to providing life-saving cardiac support and sensory perception, these devices play a critical role in improving patient outcomes and overall quality of life. The increasing demand and high success rates of these implants highlight their importance in modern healthcare. For anyone considering an implant, understanding the technology behind these devices is the first step toward making an informed decision about their health. The advancement of implant technology continues to push the boundaries of what is possible, bringing renewed hope and function to millions around the globe.

For more information on the various types of medical implants, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is an authoritative source. Their resources, such as the NCBI Bookshelf, provide comprehensive details on medical devices and procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

While often used interchangeably, in orthopedics, an implant supports, stabilizes, or fixes a bone or joint, whereas a prosthesis is an artificial device that completely replaces a missing or damaged body part, such as a full hip joint.

The lifespan varies significantly by type. Dental implants can last decades with proper care, while the batteries in pacemakers typically last 5 to 10 years and require replacement. Breast implants are also not considered lifelong devices.

Rejection of modern, biocompatible implants is very rare. Complications are more likely to arise from infection, wear and tear, or failure of the implant to integrate with the surrounding bone or tissue.

Yes, implants undergo rigorous testing and meet international standards for safety and reliability. However, long-term monitoring is often necessary, and some devices, like breast implants, have been linked to potential long-term issues like BIA-ALCL.

Endosteal implants are the most common type of dental implant. They are screw-shaped posts surgically placed directly into the jawbone to serve as a stable anchor for replacement teeth.

A pacemaker is a small electronic device with leads that run to the heart. It monitors the heartbeat and delivers small electrical impulses when it detects that the heart is beating too slowly, ensuring a consistent rhythm.

Coverage varies widely depending on the type of implant, medical necessity, and insurance provider. While many medically necessary devices like pacemakers and some orthopedic implants are covered, cosmetic procedures may not be.