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Free Dental Implants Guide

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Dental Implants

A Dental Implant is the closest replacement to a natural tooth we have in dentistry today. They have literally changed the lives of so many of our patients because they restore for them what nature had provided. Dental Implants can give you back your smile, help you to chew effectively, speak better, restore the muscle tone in your face, eliminate wrinkles and so much more. This is why our patients travel from places as far as the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Dubai, and all-over South Africa to have Dental Implants done at Silver Oaks Dental Clinic in Durban.

Dental Implants Before & After

Dental Implants Patient Claire
Dental Implants Patient Johannes
Dental Implants Patient Katherine
Dental Implants Patient Katherine
Dental Implants Patient Katherine

What is a Dental Implant?

A Dental Implant is a titanium “screw” which is used to replace the root of a tooth. It is placed in the jawbone and integrates (becomes a part of) with the bone to form a solid unit. This enables the dentist to anchor a crown (single tooth) or a bridge (multiple teeth) or a denture in the mouth where there are no teeth.

So there are effectively two parts to Dental Implant treatment – namely the titanium screw (implant) and secondly the final crown (tooth) which attaches to the implant.

This has proven to be incredibly useful as patients now have the option of having a fixed prosthesis to replace missing or damaged teeth. This means no longer having to be forced to wear dentures to replace missing teeth. You no longer have to remove your teeth to clean and maintain them. It also means that you do not need to have bridges to close any gaps you may have as they severely weaken the anchor teeth which they attach to.

“A Dental Implant when properly done is the closest replacement to your own natural tooth that you can get today”

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Once successfully integrated into the surrounding bone, implants can last a very long time, in fact if properly looked after, Dental Implants can literally last a lifetime.

Dental implants have been around for more than 40 years. They have improved immeasurably in recent years and together with the digital revolution have evolved into an extremely successful and reproducible treatment modality within dentistry. We at Silver Oaks Dental Clinic have been placing dental implants for the last 15 years both in the United Kingdom as well as in South Africa.

The procedure for the placement of dental implants has changed significantly over the last few years. This is because of the advent of Digital Dentistry and the sophistication of the latest 3-D dental scanners and 3-D printers. Highly advanced computers with Artificial Intelligence (AI) have changed how we place our implants.

“We are a fully digital dental practice and use a digital design and fully guided digital placement protocol in all of our implant cases.”

This has a number of advantages for our patients –

Benefits of Digital Implant Dentistry

  • Accurate Placement

    Implant placement is much more accurate than the non-digital approach

  • Reduced Surgery Time

    Surgery time is greatly reduced

  • Faster Healing Process

    Healing is quicker and more effective

  • Superior Aesthetics

    The aesthetics of the final prosthesis (teeth) has improved greatly because of the integration of Digital Smile Design and Digital Implant Placement

  • Safer Surgery

    The surgery is much safer due to the use of Cone Beam CT scans

  • Immediate Temporary Crown

    With accurate digital planning we can often attach an immediate temporary crown to the dental implant so that there is no need to wait for three months for the bone to grow into the implant

  • Fewer Appointments

    The number of appointments are also reduced because of this

  • More Cost-effective

    This makes the overall procedure also more cost-effective

How can implants help you?

There are different options for dental implant restoration. This depends on each individual’s needs, requirements, and budget. The following are the most common uses of dental implants at our practice –

Single ToothMultiple TeethFull Arch ImplantsDenture Retaining
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Single Tooth Implants

Single tooth implants are generally very simple procedures taking less time than a crown preparation would take. Using digitally guided surgery these implants can often be placed without having to make incisions into the gum. This makes the healing much simpler, quicker, with much less discomfort afterwards. With our on-site lab we are often able to place a temporary crown immediately on the placed implant.

It is always better to replace a missing tooth or restore a broken tooth in the mouth. This is because if you lose a tooth in your jaw the remaining teeth have to work so much harder to support your bite. This puts an enormous amount of pressure on these teeth often causing them to fracture or break which starts the cycle again putting even more pressure on the remaining teeth. Before long you end up with too few teeth to chew with. The other reason is that when there is a space following a tooth extraction or a tooth breakage the teeth on either side of the gap tend to lean into that space. The tooth in the other jaw opposite the gap will also tend to grow into the space created by the lack of tooth. This procedure is called over-eruption and causes huge problems later in life with chewing and jaw movements.

The alternative is to having a single tooth implant would be either a bridge or a denture.

The disadvantage of having a bridge is that the teeth on either side of the bridge would need to be cut down quite a bit to create the space required for the porcelain of the bridge. The prognosis of these bridges is generally around 5 to 10 years and when they fail you stand to lose three teeth. On the other hand dental implants if properly placed and looked after can last for the rest of your life – and if they fail you will only lose a single tooth as opposed to three.

Dentures are the cheaper alternative but have their own disadvantages. They are a removable appliance made of either plastic or chrome cobalt metal. They are not the most comfortable appliance to wear. They affect your chewing because they move in your mouth. They affect your taste as they cover areas in your mouth where the taste buds are often found. Some people find that they make them gag because they cover the roof of your mouth. Other people complain that they affect their speech because of the position of the tongue against the plastic or metal of the denture.

Multiple Teeth Implants

Multiple teeth implants are required if more than one tooth is missing. By this we mean 2 to 6 missing teeth. This does not mean however that you would require one implant per tooth. Most of the time we repair gaps of multiple teeth with 2 to 3 implants only. We would then bridge the gap using the implants as anchor teeth. This makes the procedure much more cost-effective and often improves the aesthetics of the outcome. The bridges are made of extremely strong porcelain (Zirconia or Monolithium Disilicate / Emax) and they are fixed permanently onto the implants.

It is always better to replace missing teeth in the mouth. This is because if you lose teeth in your jaw the remaining teeth have to work so much harder to support your bite. This puts an enormous amount of pressure on these teeth often causing them to fracture or break which starts the cycle again putting even more pressure on the remaining teeth. Before long you end up with too few teeth to chew with. The other reason is that when there is a space following a tooth extraction or a tooth breakage the teeth on either side of the gap tend to lean into that space. The tooth in the other jaw opposite the gap will also tend to grow into the space created by the lack of tooth. This procedure is called over-eruption and causes huge problems later in life with chewing and jaw movements.

The other problem is that when teeth are extracted and not replaced the bone starts to recede. This leads to all sorts of issues including problems with muscle tone causing the face to sag which immediately makes you look older. If left too long the receded bone would make it even harder to place implants or even restore with bridges or dentures at a later stage. You would then require extensive bone grafting to rectify the situation before placing the implants.

The alternatives to having multiple teeth implants would be either a bridge or a denture.

The disadvantage of having a bridge is that the teeth on either side of the bridge would need to be cut down quite a bit to create the space required for the porcelain of the bridge. The prognosis of these bridges is generally around 5 to 10 years but in the case of multiple teeth implants this prognosis would be significantly lower. When they fail you stand to lose multiple teeth. On the other hand dental implants if properly placed and looked after can last for the rest of your life.

Dentures are the cheaper alternative but have their own disadvantages. They are removable appliances made of either plastic or chrome cobalt metal. They are not the most comfortable appliances to wear. They affect your chewing because they move in your mouth. They affect your taste as they cover areas in your mouth where the taste buds are often found. Some people find that they make them gag because they cover the roof of your mouth. Other people complain that they affect their speech because of the position of the tongue against the plastic or metal of the denture.

Full Arch Implants

Full arch implants are required when none of the teeth in your jaw can be restored and have to be extracted. Because there are 12-16 teeth in each jaw it is not feasible to place one implant per tooth. We would generally tend to place 4-8 implants per jaw depending on the amount of bone, the type of final prosthesis as well as time and cost considerations. These implants would support a full arch bridge made of either Zirconium, Titanium, or an Acrylic resin. These bridges would carry between 12 to 14 units (teeth).

The procedure is digitally planned, designed and implemented surgically. It is generally done under intravenous sedation (IV) or general anaesthetic (GA). We would always try to attach temporary teeth to the placed implants on the same day (Same Day Smiles). This is made possible through digital planning and the fact that we have an on-site dental laboratory at the practice.

It is always better to replace the missing teeth in your mouth. When teeth are extracted and not replaced the bone starts to recede (dissolve). The teeth can be replaced with dentures but these cause the bone to recede even more over time. Placing dental implants actually helps to maintain the bone height in the jaw so that it does not recede anymore.

This bone recession leads to all sorts of issues including problems with muscle tone causing the face to sag which immediately makes you look older. If left too long the receded bone would make it even harder to place implants or even restore with bridges or dentures at a later stage. You would then require extensive bone grafting to rectify the situation before placing the implants.

Without enough teeth in your mouth you automatically struggle to chew correctly. Overtime this leads to problems with your TMJ (Temporo Mandibular Joint) which is the joint between the jaws. This can cause chronic jaw ache, migraines, tinnitus (ringing in your ears), sleep apnoea (struggling to sleep) amongst other things.

Not being able to chew your food has its own problems including indigestion, malabsorption of vital nutrients for the body, acid reflux to name but a few.

Dentures are the cheaper alternative but have their own disadvantages. They are removable appliances made of either plastic or chrome cobalt metal. They are not the most comfortable appliances to wear. They affect your chewing because they move in your mouth. They affect your taste as they cover areas in your mouth where the taste buds are often found. Some people find that they make them gag because they cover the roof of your mouth. Other people complain that they affect their speech because of the position of the tongue against the plastic or metal of the denture.

Another option is to have Denture Retaining Implants. These are removable dentures which are attached to implants. These may not have the ideal aesthetic or functional end result of Full Arch Implants but are a much more cost-effective solution.

Denture Retaining Implants

These are dentures which are held in place with implants. They are removable appliances which make them easy to clean outside of the mouth. The dentures can be held in place with 2-4 implants which attach to the fitting surface of the denture. There are many different types of attachments – we generally use the “locator type” ball clip which fits into an “O-ring” in the denture. This “O-ring”  is replaced periodically.

Without enough teeth in your mouth you automatically struggle to chew correctly. Overtime this leads to problems with your TMJ (Temporo Mandibular Joint) which is the joint between the jaws. This can cause chronic jaw ache, migraines, tinitis (ringing in your ears), sleep apnoea (struggling to sleep) amongst other things.

Not being able to chew your food has its own problems including indigestion, malabsorption of vital nutrients for the body, acid reflux to name but a few.

This is a cost-effective solution to having no teeth in your mouth. It is not the ideal solution as it is a removable prosthesis. However it does help you to chew your food effectively because it limits the movement of dentures while chewing and talking.

Although only 2-4 implants are used to support the dentures these few implants still help to maintain the height of the bone and to prevent bone recession.

Having teeth in your mouth (even teeth that are on dentures) helps to support your muscle tone and fills your cheeks. This helps to counteract the ageing affect of sagging muscles due to the lack of teeth.

Dentures are the cheaper alternative but have their own disadvantages. They are removable appliances made of either plastic or chrome cobalt metal. They are not the most comfortable appliances to wear. They affect your chewing because they move in your mouth. They affect your taste as they cover areas in your mouth where the taste buds are often found. Some people find that they make them gag because they cover the roof of your mouth. Other people complain that they affect their speech because of the position of the tongue against the plastic or metal of the denture.

Careful examination and planning is always be done prior to any implant treatment. Photos, 3D scans of the teeth and CBCT scans of the jaws will be taken before placement. This digital planning allows us to determine what sort of treatment is required and what your options are. Sometimes there is not enough bone in the jaws to place an implant so a bone graft would be required before or at the same time as the implant placement. This is generally a simple procedure where we would use organic (your own bone or cows bone) or inorganic (calcium substitutes) materials.

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FAQ: Common questions about having Dental Implants

A single dental implant often takes less time than the crown preparation – between 20-40 minutes. More complicated cases take longer.

The dentist uses different types of local anaesthetic techniques to completely deaden the area so that there is no feeling during the procedure. For larger cases we use our in-house anaesthetist who administers intravenous drugs to numb the pain, relax you, and telescope the time so it feels much quicker than it is. This is called Intravenous Sedation (IV Sedation).

For simple implant placements the answer would be no as the healing is much quicker using digital surgical techniques. An alternative would be to have the treatment done on a Friday and have the weekend to recover.

For larger surgical cases you may want to take a Friday off to have three days to recover – this is often enough.

We will always make a temporary solution for you. We always try to place temporary teeth immediately onto the implants but if this is not possible we will make you a temporary bridge or denture to use while the implants integrate.

Today age is not necessarily a limiting factor with dental implants as we have placed implants on patients as old as ninety years. As long as you are fit and healthy you are good to go.

  • Dental Implants Explanation
  • Dental Implant Surgery
  • Dental Implants Surgery
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Using Digital Smile Design (DSD) we can very often show you what the end result will look like before we even start.

The honest answer is that there is no single price for a dental implant in South Africa. The total cost depends on how many teeth need to be replaced, the type of implant system used, the materials chosen for the crown or prosthesis, and whether any preparatory procedures are required before the implant can be placed. As a broad guide at Silver Oaks Dental Clinic, a single tooth implant is typically made up of two components: the implant placement at around R15,000 and the implant crown at around R17,000, working out to a total of approximately R32,000*. Diagnostic imaging such as a CBCT scan is quoted separately, and full-arch solutions are priced according to the prosthesis selected.

Several clinical factors influence the final figure. These include whether a sinus lift is needed in the upper jaw, whether bone grafting is required to build up the implant site, the brand of implant used, and whether sedation forms part of the treatment plan. Every patient receives a detailed written quote after a consultation and 3D scan, so there are no surprises before treatment begins.

*Guide only. Fees subject to change. For a full quote please contact the practice directly.

Some medical aid schemes in South Africa do contribute towards dental implants, but cover is far from universal and it varies enormously between schemes and plan options. Implants are typically only partially covered on more comprehensive plans, and they almost always require pre-authorisation and a clinical motivation submitted directly to the scheme. Many plans also apply waiting periods, annual limits, or specific designated service provider rules.

Silver Oaks Dental Clinic does not typically handle medical aid submissions for implant treatment, as the majority of our implant patients fund the treatment privately. Patients who would like to claim from their medical aid are welcome to contact their scheme directly with the written quote provided after their consultation. The scheme will advise on what portion, if any, is claimable on their specific plan.

For patients who would prefer to spread the cost over time, payment plan options are available and can be discussed at the consultation. Dental implants are a long-term investment in oral health and quality of life, and the right financial arrangement makes the treatment more accessible for patients who might otherwise put it off.

Dental implants are designed to be a long-term solution for missing teeth. Clinical research consistently shows survival rates of around 95 to 98 percent at ten years and roughly 90 to 94 percent at fifteen years. With good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups, many implants last 20 years or longer, and a significant proportion last a lifetime.

It is important to draw a distinction between the implant itself and the crown that sits on top. The titanium implant fuses with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration and is intended to be permanent. The crown is subject to normal wear and tear and may need to be replaced at some point during the patient’s lifetime, in the same way that any restoration eventually needs maintenance. Habits such as smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, grinding the teeth, and poor oral hygiene can reduce the lifespan of an implant, which is why ongoing dental care after placement is so important.

Most patients are surprised by how comfortable the dental implant procedure actually is. The procedure itself is carried out under local anaesthetic, which means the area is fully numb throughout. Patients feel pressure and movement but should not feel sharp pain during the placement of the implant. For more anxious patients or more complex cases, sedation options are available to make the experience even more relaxed.

After the anaesthetic wears off, some tenderness, mild swelling, and bruising at the implant site are normal for a few days. This discomfort is typically well controlled with over-the-counter pain medication and usually settles within a week. Most patients describe the recovery as easier than they expected and comparable to a tooth extraction. Following the post-operative instructions given by the clinic, including soft foods, gentle rinsing, and careful oral hygiene around the site, helps recovery go smoothly.

Dentures are removable appliances that sit on top of the gums and replace missing teeth. They are taken out for cleaning and at night. Dental implants, by contrast, are titanium posts surgically placed into the jawbone, where they fuse with the bone and act as artificial tooth roots. A crown, bridge, or fixed full-arch prosthesis is then attached on top. Implants are not removed by the patient and function much like natural teeth.

The main practical differences come down to how they feel, how they function, and what happens to the underlying bone. Implants are fixed in place, so patients can eat and speak normally without worrying about movement or slippage. They also help preserve the jawbone, because the bone is stimulated in the same way it would be by natural tooth roots. Dentures do not provide this stimulation, and over time the jawbone tends to shrink, which can change the shape of the face. Dentures are typically more affordable upfront and quicker to provide, while implants represent a higher initial investment but a longer-term, more stable solution. Implant-supported dentures sit in the middle of these two options and combine a removable prosthesis with the stability of implants.

Not every dental implant patient needs a bone graft. Whether one is required depends on the volume and quality of bone available in the jaw where the implant will be placed. When a tooth has been missing for a long time, the bone in that area tends to shrink, because it is no longer being stimulated by a tooth root. In those cases, a bone graft may be needed to build up enough bone to securely anchor the implant.

A bone graft is a relatively common procedure in implant dentistry. It involves adding bone material, which can come from the patient or from a sterile donor source, to the area where the implant will sit. The graft then integrates with the existing bone over several months before the implant is placed. In the upper jaw, a related procedure called a sinus lift is sometimes used to create more bone height beneath the sinus cavity. The need for a bone graft or sinus lift is determined from a CBCT scan during the consultation, and these procedures, if required, do add to both the timeline and the overall cost of treatment.

Dental implants have one of the highest success rates of any surgical procedure in dentistry, typically around 95 to 98 percent. They are considered a safe and well-established treatment, but as with any surgical procedure there are some risks that patients should be aware of before treatment begins.

Potential complications include infection at the implant site, delayed healing, and, less commonly, failure of the implant to fuse properly with the bone. Other rare risks include nerve irritation, sinus issues when working in the upper jaw, and damage to neighbouring teeth. Peri-implantitis, which is inflammation around a placed implant similar to gum disease, can develop years later if oral hygiene is poor.

Several factors increase the risk of complications. These include smoking, poorly controlled diabetes, untreated gum disease, certain medications, and inadequate bone volume at the implant site. A thorough consultation, including a medical history review and 3D imaging, allows the dentist to identify and manage these risks before treatment begins. Following all post-operative instructions and attending regular check-ups significantly reduces the chance of complications over the long term.

Why Should You Get Your Dental Implants Done With Silver Oaks Dental Clinic?

  • We offer the highest quality in dentistry

    All our implants are internationally recognized and used all over the world. So you know you are getting the highest quality in Dental Implants

  • Life time guarantee

    We offer a life time guarantee on our implants

  • Start to finish Treatment

    We perform the treatment from start to finish

  • Expert skills

    Dr Huson trained under world renowned celebrity dentist Dr Joe Oliver in the Harley Street Region of London. He has placed in excess 500 Implants – all with excellent results

  • Latest digital technology

    We offer the latest digital technology – we have an onsite lab using the latest 3D scanning and 3D printing techniques in order to perfect your smile.

The Dental Implant Procedure

How you can prepare for the implant procedure

Because dental implants require one or more surgical procedures, you must have a thorough evaluation to prepare for the process, including a:

  • Comprehensive dental exam: You will need to have X-Rays or a 3D scan taken.
  • Treatment plan: Dr Huson will have a look at your teeth and jawbone and will give you a treatment plan based on how many teeth need to be replaced and the condition of your jawbone. A quote will be given to you and explained in detail what it entails.

Dr Huson will ask you about any medical conditions and any medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs and supplements. If you have certain heart conditions or orthopedic implants, Dr Huson may prescribe antibiotics before surgery to help prevent infection.

To control pain, anesthesia options during surgery include local anesthesia, Intra -Venous sedation or general anesthesia (GA). Talk to Dr Huson about which option is best for you. Your dental care team will instruct you about eating and drinking before surgery, depending on what type of anesthesia you have. If you’re having general anesthesia or IV Sedation, plan to have someone take you home after surgery and expect to rest for the remainder of the day.

What you can expect

Dental implant surgery is usually an outpatient surgery performed in stages:

  • The damaged tooth is removed (if there is one present – if not the implant can be placed immediately)
  • The titanium implant is placed in the bone and left to heal. The final crown (tooth) can sometimes be placed at this stage but it would depend on the quality and quantity of your bone at the placement.
  • Bone takes around 3months to fully integrate into the implant.
  • Dr Huson then places the abutment — an extension of the implant metal post — followed by your new porcelain tooth (crown).

The entire process can take 3-4 months from start to finish. Much of that time is devoted to healing and waiting for the growth of new bone in your jaw.

Click on the headings below to read more about Dental Implants

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