Derived from Greek osteon (bone) and Latin integrare (to make whole). It is the biological process where living bone cells attach directly to the titanium oxide surface of a dental implant, locking it rigidly into the jaw.
Without osseointegration, an implant would be a foreign body that falls out. This fusion allows the implant to withstand the high pressures of chewing without moving.
The fusing of the jawbone to the implant screw. It typically takes 3-6 months.