A dental implant replaces a missing tooth with a small titanium post that fuses with your jaw, topped by a natural-looking crown. At The London Smile Clinic in Fitzrovia, the surgery is carried out by Dr Zaki Kanaan, who also holds diplomas in sedation and hypnosis, so anxious patients can have it done calmly.
Most people who want implants don’t hesitate because of the science. They hesitate because of the word “surgery”.
That’s the part that keeps a missing tooth missing for years. The gap that gets hidden in photographs. The chewing done carefully on one side. The slow drift of the teeth either side of the space, which only makes the eventual fix more involved.
Here’s the question worth asking, then. What if the surgery itself wasn’t the frightening part? Stay with me, because at this practice that’s the whole idea.
What a dental implant actually is
An implant is three things working together. A titanium post placed into the jawbone, which acts as an artificial root. An abutment, the small connector that sits on top. And a crown, the visible tooth, shade-matched to the ones around it.
Over a few months the bone grows around the post and locks it in place, a process called osseointegration. Once that’s happened, the implant is as stable as a natural root. You bite, chew and speak normally, and nobody can tell which tooth isn’t yours.
Unlike a denture, it doesn’t move. Unlike a bridge, it doesn’t rely on filing down the healthy teeth either side. It stands on its own.
Who places yours, and why that matters here
An implant is only as good as the surgeon planning it. Get the position, angle and depth right and it lasts for decades. Get them wrong and the problems are expensive to undo.
At The London Smile Clinic, implant surgery is led by Dr Zaki Kanaan, one of the most decorated implant surgeons in the country. He qualified at Guy’s Hospital, holds an MSc in Dental Implant Treatment from the GKT Dental Institute, and is Past President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and President-Elect of the Association of Dental Implantology.
He’s also lectured internationally for Nobel Biocare and performed complex implant treatment on national television, on Channel 4’s “Embarrassing Bodies”.
Read that list again. The point isn’t the trophies. It’s that the person placing your implant is someone other implant dentists go to learn from.
The part that sets this apart: comfort by design
Plenty of clinics place implants. Far fewer build the whole experience around the patient’s nerves rather than just the clinical result.
Dr Kanaan holds a Diploma in Sedation and a Diploma in Hypnosis on top of his surgical training. His view is that elite surgical skill is only half the job, and that a patient’s total comfort is the other half. So the anxiety is treated as carefully as the tooth.
Sedation keeps you deeply relaxed while you stay conscious and able to respond. Hypnosis can help reframe the fear itself, for patients whose anxiety runs deeper than a single appointment. And during treatment, DVD headsets let you watch a film rather than listen to the room. Several patients describe the clinic as a sanctuary rather than a surgery, which is the reaction the whole setup is engineered to produce.
Implant, bridge or denture: a quick comparison
If you’re replacing a tooth, an implant is one of three routes. Here’s how they line up.
|
What you’re weighing |
Dental implant |
Bridge |
Denture |
|
Affects neighbouring teeth |
No, it stands alone |
Yes, they’re filed down to anchor it |
No, but can rub or move |
|
Stability |
Fixed, like a natural tooth |
Fixed |
Removable, can shift |
|
Protects the jawbone |
Yes, the post stimulates bone |
No |
No |
|
Typical lifespan |
Often decades with good care |
Around 10 to 15 years |
Replaced or relined over time |
|
Upfront cost |
Higher |
Moderate |
Lower |
The implant usually costs the most at the outset and the least in regret. Because it preserves the bone and leaves the neighbouring teeth untouched, it tends to be the most durable answer to a single gap.
Is sedation-led implant treatment right for you?
This route suits some people more than others. Be honest about which group you’re in.
It tends to be right if a fear of the dentist has kept you out of the chair, if you’ve avoided fixing a gap because of nerves, if you have a strong gag reflex, or if you simply find long appointments hard to sit through. It’s also worth considering when the treatment is more involved, such as several implants in one visit.
It’s less necessary if you’re genuinely relaxed in the chair and a straightforward placement is all that’s needed, in which case standard local anaesthetic may be plenty. The honest answer comes from a consultation, where Dr Kanaan reviews your medical history and tells you what level of comfort support actually fits your case.
What it costs, roughly
UK dental implant fees vary with the case, commonly from around £2,000 to £2,500 for a single implant, with the crown sometimes priced separately, and more for cases needing bone grafting or several implants. Sedation is usually an additional cost on top.
As of August 2026, Dr Zaki Kanaan places implants at The London Smile Clinic in Fitzrovia, a short walk from Marylebone, Soho and Bloomsbury. Your exact fee is confirmed after assessment, never quoted blind. You can see the wider picture on our dental implants and tooth replacement pages first.
FAQ
Does getting a dental implant hurt?
The surgery itself is done under local anaesthetic, so the area is fully numbed and most patients feel pressure rather than pain. For nervous patients, Dr Zaki Kanaan offers sedation to keep you deeply relaxed throughout. Afterwards the area may feel tender for a few days, which is easily managed with ordinary painkillers, and most people return to normal life quickly.
Can I have implants if I’m terrified of the dentist?
Yes, and that’s precisely the kind of patient this approach is built for. Dr Zaki Kanaan holds diplomas in both sedation and hypnosis alongside his implant surgery training, so the anxiety is managed as carefully as the treatment. DVD headsets and a calm environment add to the comfort. Many anxious patients finally fix a long-avoided gap this way.
How long does dental implant treatment take?
It varies with the case. After the post is placed, the bone needs a few months to fuse around it before the final crown goes on, a process called osseointegration. Some cases allow a temporary tooth in the meantime. Dr Zaki Kanaan sets out a realistic timeline at your consultation at The London Smile Clinic in Fitzrovia.
Is an implant better than a bridge or denture?
For many single gaps, yes. An implant stands alone without filing down healthy neighbouring teeth, stays fixed rather than removable, and helps preserve the jawbone. It usually costs more upfront but often lasts longest. The right choice depends on your mouth and budget, which Dr Zaki Kanaan will talk through with you before you decide anything.
How much do dental implants cost in London?
UK implant fees commonly start from around £2,000 to £2,500 for a single implant, with the crown sometimes priced separately and more for complex cases needing bone grafting. Sedation is usually an extra cost. The London Smile Clinic confirms your exact fee after assessing your mouth, with the full plan explained before any treatment begins.
What to do next
If a missing tooth has been bothering you, but nerves have kept you from doing anything about it, the calmest first step is a consultation. You can talk through your worries, your options and your timeline before committing to anything at all.
Call The London Smile Clinic in Fitzrovia on 020 7255 2559, or use the contact page to arrange an assessment with Dr Zaki Kanaan.
