When considering dental implants for your tooth restoration, it is of vital importance to select a knowledgeable and experienced dental professional. When a dental implant is placed properly and followed up with excellent aftercare and oral hygiene, your implant can last a lifetime. The following are some questions you may consider asking when selecting a dentist to place your dental implants.
- Is your implant dentist a board-certified specialist? Any dentist with a diploma can legally place dental implants, but “Prosthodontics” is the only specialty recognized by the American Dental Association that deals specifically with dental implants.
- How long has your dental professional been placing dental implants and how many implants have they placed? A specialist or any skilled oral surgeon has placed hundreds if not thousands of implants and performs them on a daily basis.
- What is the extent of their training in implant surgery? Many dentists may only take weekend courses in dental implant placement. Ask what type of courses and training they have completed in implant dentistry, as well as what type of continuing education they have pursued.
- Can they provide dental implant before-and-after pictures from previous clients? Ask to speak to other patients about their experience, as personal testimonials are very valuable.
- Will more than one dentist be involved in the procedure, and if so, is there a plan to coordinate treatment between the dental professionals and you?
- Does your implant dentist understand the different types of implants and how they might best suit your needs? Your implant dentist should have worked with a variety of types of implants, so they can choose the method that serves your best specific restoration needs.
The decision you make in choosing a qualified professional to perform your dental implant procedure can make the difference between a successful or failed treatment. Be sure to thoroughly investigate the credentials and competency of your dentist to ensure your dental implants have the best chance of lasting you a lifetime.
