The point of dental implants is to help take the place of a lost tooth; replacing it with a fake tooth or teeth. Usually they are made out of titanium and aide the dentist is supporting the restoration. Because they are foreign material they will not feel entirely like a natural tooth. You may notice slight differences when chewing, or brushing them.
So let's talk about the history behind it. Yes, something that we'd usually assume to be new science actually dates back to about 600 AD. Implants have been found in Maya burial sites dating back that far. The implant was found to be that of a woman in their twenties in the sockets of missing incisors.
Experiments were conducted on bunnies by Cambridge University in the 1950's that propelled the technology even further. It was found that titanium could bind itself to the natural teeth, thus allowing a more permanent repair. I don't prefer cruel animal testing but I appreciate their sacrifice for this worthy find.