What Type of Dentist Should I See for Dental Implants?

What are dental implants?

A dental implant is the only permanent solution to replace missing teeth. The implant is a small titanium screw that is placed in the jaw bone. This is left to heal and bond with the jaw bone, creating a strong foundation for a tooth restoration. This could be a single crown, a bridge, or an entire denture.

The implant replicates the role of the natural tooth root, ensuring that the force of the bite is distributed across the jaw bone, which helps to prevent loss of bone density. This ensures patients do not suffer from the sunken face appearance that is common with missing teeth.

Dental implants look, feel and function just like natural teeth. It can be a true second chance for those who have lost their teeth.

Who can place dental implants?

Dental implant placement is not covered in standard dental training. To be able to carry out this treatment, your dentist needs to be a qualified implantologist. To achieve this additional qualification, most dentists will complete an MSc or a PGDip after qualifying as a general dentist.

If you go overseas for treatment, there is no guarantee that your dentist will have this level of training. It could be that you meet with an implantologist during treatment, but then the implants are placed by a dental student. This is one reason we don’t recommend going abroad for your dental implant treatment.

What type of dentist is best for dental implants?

If you are curious about dental implants, it’s often common to speak to your general dentist first. You might be surprised to learn that they also offer dental implants. If this is the case, and you are a suitable candidate, you can go ahead with treatment in familiar surroundings.

If your general dentist doesn’t offer dental implants, or if you have a more difficult case that requires a more specialised dentist, they may refer you to another implantologist that they trust. This is often preferable to finding your own implant dentist, as they will be recommended by someone you already trust.

Remember, only someone who has carried out additional training to become an implantologist should handle your implant treatment. Always check their credentials and ask to see things like patient reviews and case studies of their work if you have any doubts.

What questions should you ask during your consultation?

Your initial consultation is an opportunity to learn about the dental implant process so that you can feel confident before moving forward. We always recommend writing down questions you might have about the treatment so that you don’t forget anything. Some possible questions could include:

• How long have you been placing dental implants?

• Can you show me case studies or reviews from previous patients?

• Have you ever treated a patient with a similar case to mine?

• What is the success rate of implants you have placed?

• Do you anticipate any potential complications in my case?

• How long do you expect the treatment plan to take?

• What aftercare support do you offer?

• Do you offer payment plans?

What type of dentist can I see for a follow up?

If you have already had dental implants and you are looking for routine care, you can return to your general dentist for regular checkups. Your dentist will have a copy of your dental implant medical files, so they will be up to speed with your treatment.

General dentists will also be able to provide aftercare support and answer any questions you might have. If they are concerned about the way your implants are healing and would like to get a second opinion, they may refer you back to your implantologist for specialist support.

Ready to take the first steps?

If you’d like to explore dental implant treatment with our team, get in touch to arrange a consultation.