What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. A small titanium post is surgically placed into the jawbone, where it fuses with the surrounding bone through a natural process called osseointegration — creating a stable, permanent anchor for a custom-crafted crown, bridge, or full-arch restoration.
Unlike traditional dentures or bridges, implants replace the entire tooth structure — both the root and the crown. This preserves the integrity of your jawbone (which deteriorates when teeth are missing), maintains your facial contours, and provides a biting force indistinguishable from natural teeth. Most patients forget they even have an implant.
At Smile Art Dental, our implant specialists — led by Dr. Okiriamu Andrew (BDS, MDS OMFS) — use 3D cone beam CT scanning for precise implant placement planning. This advanced technology ensures your implant is positioned with millimetre accuracy, maximising success rates and minimising healing time.
- Lifetime Warranty on Selected Implants We stand behind the quality of our implants with comprehensive warranty coverage — because we're confident in every procedure we perform.
Why Choose Implants
Benefits of Dental Implants
The most advanced, permanent tooth replacement solution available — designed to restore your smile and quality of life completely.
Permanent Lifetime Solution
With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime. Our selected implant systems come with warranty coverage, reflecting our confidence in the longevity and quality of every procedure we perform.
Preserves Jawbone Health
When a tooth is lost, the jawbone beneath it begins to resorb (shrink). Implants stimulate the bone just as natural roots do, preventing bone loss and preserving your facial structure and youthful appearance.
Natural Look and Feel
Custom-crafted crowns are matched precisely to the colour, shape, and size of your surrounding teeth. Most patients and observers cannot distinguish implant teeth from natural teeth — even up close.
Easy, Natural Maintenance
Care for your implant just as you do natural teeth — regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups. There are no special adhesives, soaking solutions, or complex cleaning routines required.
The Process
Your Implant Treatment Journey
1. Consultation & 3D Cone Beam CT Scan
Your journey begins with a comprehensive assessment including medical history review, oral examination, and a 3D CBCT scan. This gives our specialist a precise three-dimensional view of your jaw anatomy to plan implant placement with pinpoint accuracy.
2. Treatment Planning
Using your CT data, we design a fully customised implant treatment plan — selecting the optimal implant size, position, and angle for maximum stability and aesthetics. If bone grafting is required, this is planned and discussed at this stage.
3. Implant Placement Surgery
Under comfortable local anaesthesia (sedation is available), your implant surgeon makes a small incision in the gum and precisely positions the titanium implant post in the prepared bone site. The procedure is far more comfortable than most patients anticipate.
4. Osseointegration — Healing Phase
Over 3–6 months, the implant undergoes osseointegration — fusing directly with the surrounding jawbone. This biological bonding process is what gives implants their exceptional strength and stability, forming an artificial "root" in the truest sense.
5. Abutment Placement
Once osseointegration is confirmed, a small connector piece called an abutment is attached to the implant. This is the component that will connect the implant post to your final crown, bridge, or prosthesis.
6. Crown Attachment & Final Fitting
Your custom-crafted, colour-matched crown is permanently secured to the abutment. We carefully check and adjust the bite to ensure perfect function and aesthetics. Your new permanent tooth is complete — indistinguishable from the real thing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about dental implants at Smile Art Dental, Nairobi.
Most adults with one or more missing teeth are suitable implant candidates, provided they have sufficient bone density and are in generally good health. Key considerations include jawbone volume (bone grafting can address deficiency), gum health, and any systemic conditions. Uncontrolled diabetes, active smoking, and certain medications can affect healing — these are all discussed thoroughly during your consultation. The best way to determine your suitability is through a comprehensive assessment including a 3D CT scan.
The procedure itself is performed under effective local anaesthesia, so you will not feel pain during surgery — only mild pressure. Post-operatively, most patients experience manageable discomfort for 3–5 days, well controlled with prescribed pain medication. The majority of our patients are pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the experience is compared to their expectations. We also offer sedation options for anxious patients.
The titanium implant post, once fully integrated, can last a lifetime with proper oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups. The crown component typically lasts 15–25 years before requiring replacement due to normal wear. This makes implants the most cost-effective long-term tooth replacement solution available — far outlasting conventional dentures or bridges which require more frequent repair or replacement.
Osseointegration is the biological process by which the titanium implant fuses with your living jawbone at a cellular level, creating a stable, permanent anchor. This process takes 3–6 months because it involves the gradual growth of new bone tissue around the implant surface. Titanium’s unique biocompatibility makes this possible — the body accepts it as its own. Rushing this phase would compromise the strength and longevity of the implant, so patience during healing is essential to long-term success.
Caring for a dental implant is essentially the same as caring for natural teeth. Brush twice daily with a soft-bristle toothbrush, floss around the implant daily (interdental brushes work exceptionally well), and attend regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings every 6 months. Avoid excessive force on the implant (such as opening packages with your teeth), limit smoking, and manage conditions like diabetes that can affect gum health. With this simple care routine, your implant should serve you beautifully for decades.