What type of dental prosthesis is surgically placed in the oral cavity to replace a missing tooth?

A dental implant is a type of prosthesis that is surgically placed in the oral cavity to replace a missing tooth. This procedure involves inserting a titanium post into the jawbone, which serves as an artificial root for the replacement tooth. Once the implant has integrated with the bone through a process called osseointegration, a crown can be placed on top of the implant to restore the function and aesthetics of the natural tooth.

In contrast, a dental bridge is a fixed prosthetic device used to replace one or more missing teeth but does not involve surgery to anchor it in the jawbone; it relies on adjacent teeth for support. A dental crown is a cap placed over a damaged tooth to restore its shape and size, while a dental veneer is a thin shell placed over the front of a tooth to improve its appearance. Neither of these options involves surgical placement in the oral cavity to replace a missing tooth, which is why they are not the correct answers in this context.