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Understanding Dental Implant Surgery

Placing a dental implant is as much an art as it is a science which is why 3D-guided implant surgery is key to ensuring the success of each implant. At Silver Oaks, we use state-of-the-art 3D-guided planning to map every aspect of your implant procedure before the day of surgery. This approach means more accurate implant placement, faster recovery, and reduced surgical risk.A confident smile begins with a strong foundation.

If you’re missing one or more teeth, dental implants offer a permanent, natural-looking solution that not only restores function but transforms your confidence. At Silver Oaks Dental Clinic, our implant treatments are delivered with next-level precision, combining advanced digital technology with the expertise of internationally trained cosmetic dentist Dr Roy Huson.

Backed by Digital Smile Design and guided by 3D imaging, our implant approach ensures beautifully predictable outcomes every time.

Why Choose Dental Implants?

Dental implants are widely considered the gold standard for tooth replacement. Unlike dentures or bridges, implants are anchored directly into the jawbone, mimicking the root of a natural tooth. This delivers unmatched stability and helps to preserve bone density in the jaw — preventing the sunken appearance that can occur after tooth loss.

Whether you’re replacing a single tooth, multiple teeth, or supporting a full set of dentures, dental implants restore more than just your bite — they restore your quality of life.

The Silver Oaks Difference: Advanced Digital Planning Meets World-Class Skill

Each case is personally overseen by Dr Roy Huson, a leader in cosmetic and implant dentistry with over 20 years of experience both locally and internationally. His work blends functionality with aesthetic precision — ensuring your final result doesn’t just feel good, but looks beautifully natural too.

The Role of 3D-Guided Dental Implant Technology

Our process begins with a Cone Beam CT (CBCT) scan, which captures a detailed 3D image of your jawbone, nerves, and surrounding structures. We combine this with digital intraoral scans of your mouth, replacing traditional impressions with precise, comfortable scanning technology.

Using this data, a 3D-printed surgical guide is created, tailored to your anatomy. This guide allows Dr Huson to place your implant with pinpoint accuracy — ensuring ideal positioning for long-term success and aesthetics.

This approach drastically improves outcomes compared to traditional freehand methods.

Digital Smile Design: See Your Future Smile Before Treatment Begins

One of the most powerful tools we use at Silver Oaks is Digital Smile Design (DSD) — a system that allows patients to visualise their new smile before any treatment begins. With DSD, we can simulate how your implants will look, adjust shapes and proportions, and ensure your final result complements your facial features.

It’s especially powerful when implants are part of a larger cosmetic smile makeover, where the harmony of colour, tooth shape, and alignment matters.

Digital Smile Design shows a patient what her new smile will look like with dental implants

Preview of a new smile with dental implants using Digital Smile Design (DSD)

Your Dental Implant Journey at Silver Oaks

Every implant case at Silver Oaks follows a streamlined, patient-focused process:

  1. Comprehensive Consultation
    You’ll meet with Dr Roy Huson to discuss your goals, assess your oral health, and determine if implants are the right solution for you.
  2. Digital Planning and Smile Preview
    With the help of CBCT imaging, intraoral scanning, and Digital Smile Design, your custom treatment plan is crafted — often within days.
  3. Surgical Placement
    On the day of your implant procedure, your pre-fabricated surgical guide ensures optimal implant placement. Local anaesthetic or sedation ensures your comfort throughout.
  4. Healing and Integration
    Over the following 3–6 months, your implant will integrate with the jawbone (a process called osseointegration), forming a secure foundation.
  5. Final Restoration
    Once healed, a custom crown or bridge is attached. The result? A strong, natural-looking tooth that feels like your own.

“Every implant case is an opportunity to restore more than just a smile — it’s about restoring confidence and function.”
– Dr Roy Huson

Dental Implants vs Dentures and Bridges

Still unsure if implants are right for you? Here’s how they compare:

Treatment Stability Aesthetics Bone Preservation Lifespan
Dental Implants Fixed in bone Natural-looking Preserves bone 10–25+ years
Bridges Anchored to adjacent teeth Good No bone preservation 7–10 years
Dentures Removable Can look artificial Accelerates bone loss 5–8 years

Unlike bridges or dentures, implants don’t rely on neighbouring teeth for support — which helps protect your natural smile in the long term.

Who Is a Candidate for Dental Implants?

Most adults in good general and oral health are eligible for implants. Ideal candidates:

  • Have one or more missing teeth
  • Have healthy gums and sufficient bone volume (or are open to bone grafting)
  • Are non-smokers or willing to stop during healing
  • Want a permanent, low-maintenance solution

Even if you’ve been told in the past that you’re not a candidate, newer techniques such as bone grafting and sinus lifts could make implants possible today. Book a consultation with our team to learn more about how this advanced technology can transform your smile. Contact us today.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Is the procedure painful?
    Thanks to local anaesthetic and optional sedation, most patients report minimal discomfort during the procedure. Post-operative pain is usually manageable with over-the-counter medication.
  2. How long does the whole process take?
    From consultation to final crown, the average implant process takes 3–6 months, depending on healing time and individual needs.
  3. Are implants safe?
    Dental implants have a success rate of over 95% when placed by skilled professionals using advanced planning — like at Silver Oaks.
  4. Will I need time off work?
    Most patients return to work within 1–2 days after implant placement. We’ll provide detailed aftercare instructions to support a smooth recovery.
  5. Do implants require special care?
    Caring for implants is much like caring for natural teeth — regular brushing, flossing, and professional hygiene appointments are essential.

Same Day Smiles in South Africa

Same day smiles in South Africa are also known as all on 4s or immediate load implants and are completed in a single visit.
Imagine walking into a dental practice in need of major restorative work and walking out a few hours later with a new full set of teeth and a beautiful smile. Sound too good to be true? The good news is, thanks to the ever-evolving digital dental era “teeth in one day “ can now be a reality.

Most patients will have to see their dental specialist in 3 visits.

  • Once for a consultation
  • Once for surgery
  • And final, a follow-up.

The implantation process is completed in a single visit. The dental specialist can achieve a full set of teeth supported by dental implants during this visit.

All on 4

How does Same Day Smiles work?

At your first consult for your same day smile, your dentist will examine your teeth. A CBCT scan will determine if you have sufficient bone density in your jaw to have an implant placed. Using the Digital Smile Design system, your dentist can show you the before and after the transition of your teeth.

If you are an eligible candidate for dental implants your dentist will plan your treatment and provide you with a detailed quotation. Your implant surgery is done using a digitally guided implant placement technique. Each implant is placed at a precise angle to maximize the use of available bone to support and securely fix the dental bridge.

Same day smiles include 4 – 6 implants are placed on the upper jaw and 4 on the lower jaw. The same-day smile will involve the immediate placement of a temporary prosthesis (Dental bridge) onto the implants. The temporary prosthesis will be replaced with a permanent one in about 4 -5 months from the placement of the temporary ones.

same day smile

Am I the right candidate?

  • If you have sufficient bone density along your jawbone and dental arch.
  • You should have healthy gums and be committed to avoiding tobacco products before treatment.

Lower Jaw implant

Silver Oaks is one of the few dental implant clinics in South Africa with the skill and experience to offer same day implants or immediate implants. If you are thinking of having same-day implants call us on 031 202 6584 or email us on silveroaksdentalclinic@gmail.com for assistance.