Dental Implants
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants can be an option for people who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, extraction , injury, or some other reason.
What are dental implants made of?
Dental implants are made of titanium and can last a lifetime if they're properly cared for by your dentist (and you). They are also compatible with bone so that the metal will integrate into your jawbone rather than being rejected as foreign material in the body.
How dental implants are done
As a patient, once you feel that you need a dental implant as a permanent replacement option for your missing tooth/teeth, our specialist will determine if you have enough bone to support the implant before the dental implants can be placed in your jaw. This is done by performing a physical and radiographic examination of your mouth. If you don't have enough bone in your jaw, the bone must be built up before the dental implants can be placed through a process called bone grafting. Once you have sufficient jawbone to support the dental implant, the next step is placement of the implant in your jawbone. The implant is surgically placed in your jawbone which is done conveniently in our dental clinic’s specialist unit under local anesthesia. The implant is usually made of titanium, which allows it to fuse with bone without being rejected by your body. First, our specialist will make an incision in the gums over your jawbone and insert the implant into a hole that has been drilled into the jawbone. The gum tissue is then stitched around the implant so that it is fully covered under the gums/mucosa as it heals. The tooth replacement procedure may be done in stages or all at once, depending on how many teeth are being replaced and where they are located in your mouth.
Are dental implants covered by insurance?
Dental implants are not covered by most insurances under the outpatient dental benefit package. However, there are instances where the dental implants become medically necessary especially in cases of road accidents and the patient has to undergo major reconstruction surgeries with implants being among them. In this case some insurances will cater for the dental implant costs under inpatient accidental dental benefit package if such benefit exists in your insurance policy. It is important to check with your insurance provider for such details.
What is the cost of dental implants in Kenya?
There is a general myth that dental implants are expensive. Dental implants costs are however controlled by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council and have a slight variance from one facility to the other depending on several internal factors. It’s also case dependent and therefore it is advisable that you visit your dentist for a proper examination and treatment planning where you shall discuss the cost of your dental implant. Smartsmile Dentalcare clinics gives you the most affordable dental implants procedures in Nairobi with qualified and experienced dental implant specialists.
Can Dental Implants fail?
On worst case scenarios, dental implants can fail! This include, falling off of the implants where the implant was sunk in insufficient bone mass. This occurs when preliminary evaluation is not properly done. As a patient therefore, you are advised to conduct due diligence and chose the right specialist for your implant procedures. For your dental implants procedure in Nairobi, Smartsmile Dental care clinics gives you the highest success rate.
Conclusion
In conclusion, dental implants are a safe reliable and a great way to replace missing teeth. They are strong and durable, which means they will stay in place for many years to come if well maintained through good oral hygiene and regular dental reviews.
