6 Questions for Choosing Your Implant Dentist

These 6 questions can help guide you in the selection of a qualified implant dentist.

Dental implants are by far the best option for replacing missing teeth from the perspective of the health of the patient. Unlike alternatives like dentures and bridges, dental implants replace the tooth structure both above and below the gums. This helps to prevent bone loss in the jaw, which keeps neighboring teeth stronger and healthier and also promotes a more youthful, natural appearance.

With the recent surge in the popularity of dental implants, many dentists are scrambling to offer this procedure. Not all of them are as skilled in the procedure as they may claim. In order to help find the right implant dentist for you, start by asking these 6 questions.

Is Your Implant Dentist Board Certified?

Any time your oral health is at stake you want to know you are in good hands with a competent professional. This desire becomes more pressing the more complicated the procedure in question may be. When it comes to getting dental implants, you want to know that your dentist is not only board-certified in general dentistry, but also a diplomat of the specialty board relevant to dental implants.

How Long Have They Been Placing Dental Implants?

Finding out how long your prospective implant dentist has been providing this procedure will also be helpful in making your final decision as to whether or not to get implants from them. However, don’t just automatically choose the dentist with more years of experience. While a dentist that has been practicing for decades should have a wide breadth of experience in providing implant solutions to patients with different needs, sometimes they don’t keep up with new advancements like they should. A new graduate may not have many years of experience, but their training will be fresh in their mind and include all the latest technologies and methods.

How Many Implants Do They Place Per Year?

In general, it is preferable to choose an implant dentist that helps lots of implant patients each year. This makes it likely they will be able to handle both routine and complex procedures with ease. Also, they are likely to have lots of implants in stock which can help them respond quickly to any changes in your treatment plan.

Does Your Implant Dentist Have a Portfolio of Their Own Work?

Seeing before and after pictures is always helpful in understanding what to expect from a dental procedure. However, it is most reassuring to see pictures of your implant dentist’s own patients rather than pictures from a textbook.

What Brand(s) of Implants Do They Use?

Just as more dentists have been rushing to offer dental implants, more companies have been rushing to offer their own brands of dental implants. Some of these products are not the best quality. Ask your dentist what brands they recommend to their patients and why.

Can You See Yourself Working With This Dentist For Years to Come?

Depending on the type of dental implants you get and whether you need any preparatory surgeries to improve gum or bone tissue in the area, the process may take many months to complete. Afterwards, you will need to return to the dentist regularly because implants need care just like natural teeth. Because the dentist best equipped to care for your implants is the one who placed them, it is always best to choose a dentist you feel you can trust to provide superior care for the life of the implant.