Why You Should Choose an Implan­tol­o­gist for Your Den­tal Implant Needs

Since this is a surgical procedure, it makes sense to take a bit of time to choose the right dental professional. It isn’t a procedure that all dentists will offer, so you might need to shop around to find the right person for your needs.

In this guide, we’re looking at the importance of choosing the right implantologist for your procedure and how to choose the right person. We’ll also look at some of the dangers to avoid when choosing someone to carry out your treatment, including the risks associated with overseas dental implants.

Can any dentist place dental implants?

The process for placing dental implants takes place over multiple visits with healing periods between each procedure. This is a surgical procedure that requires skill and expertise to ensure success. While every dentist might be familiar with the procedure and able to carry out the steps in principle, it’s helpful to choose someone with lots of experience in this sector.

Dental implants are not included in general dentistry training, so you should look for a dentist who has undertaken additional training. These dentists are commonly referred to as an implantologist.

Bear in mind that a dentist may call themselves an implantologist after completing the training, but this is not a guarantee that the dentist has extensive experience in placing implants. Experience is essential in this sector, as there are so many variables that can change the treatment plan. It’s helpful to work with a dentist who has seen a variety of outcomes so they can act accordingly.

What is an implantologist?

An implantologist is a dentist who has undertaken additional training to be able to place dental implants. This could mean they have studied for an MA or PhD in dental implants or advanced dental surgery. They could also have taken a short course in dental implants, which will often include lots of practical, hands-on experience.

Many implantologists will stop offering general dentistry and focus entirely on placing dental implants. This means that they will only see dental implant patients. It’s also possible for an implantologist to continue with their general dental work. 

You might be surprised to learn that your registered dentist is actually qualified to place dental implants. If you’re looking for a dental implant dentist, your routine dentist is often a good place to start. If they don’t offer this service, they might be able to recommend a dentist.

What to look for in an implant dentist

If you are looking for your own implantologist, it’s important to base your search on more than just pricing. While price might be an important factor in your final decision, you should also prioritise things like training and experience.

An inexperienced implantologist might offer a cut price rate, but if your dental implants fail as a result of poor placement, you won’t be saving money in the long-term.

Start your search based on recommendations from your own dentist. If they don’t offer implants, they might have a go-to dentist they always recommend for this treatment.

When speaking to implant dentists, ask about their training and then ask to see evidence of their past work. Ask questions about how many dental implants they have placed, how long they have been offering their service, and then ask about their individual success rate.

Another excellent question to ask is related to how many patients they have seen with a clinical case similar to your own. For example, if you require bone grafting or a sinus lift before you can move forward with implants.

Finally, ask for testimonials from their other patients. Some dentists will hold dental implant open days where you can speak to past patients about the procedure. This can be helpful not only in choosing the right dentist, but also when trying to decide if the procedure is right for you.

Dangers to avoid when choosing an implantologist

One of the most important things to remember is that you need to be able to visit your dentist for follow-up appointments. This means heading overseas for something as complex as dental implants is not usually recommended. While you might be offered huge savings on UK prices, this comes with some significant compromises.

Firstly, you will have no legal recourse if something goes wrong with the treatment. Secondly, you won’t be able to easily visit the dentist for a follow-up appointment. While you can return to your usual dentist, they might not be comfortable managing the aftercare for work completed by another dentist.