I have been wanting to get three dental implants and have been doing a lot of research on the subject. As I learn more, I’m starting to wonder if I will need bone grafting in order to be a dental implants candidate. I have also learned that not just any dentist can do dental implants well. So, I am wondering how I would find a dentist that does bone grafting to see if it is needed for my case.
When I talked it through with my general dentist, he said he could do it. But, I really want to make sure I have someone who is really experienced and who has had success. I at least would like another opinion to see if they agree with his assessment.
I’m only in my forties and the main reason for my concern is that I have had a dental bridge for most of my life, since I was a teenager. So, I am pretty sure there is bone loss that has taken place over the years.
Thank you in advance for your help.
-Paul in Illinois
Paul,
It sounds like you have done some initial research, which means you may have a better understanding of the dental implant process than the typical patient. That is a great first step and shows that you are committed to finding the best implant dentist possible for your procedure. You are correct in not every dentist is successful with placing dental implants. Many dentists will do them and the result will be OK or say they can, but may not be experts.
Regarding your questions about bone grafting, for the highest success rate, the main factor is that a patient needs to be in good physical health. Then, it will be determined if you indeed require bone grafting by utilizing x-rays and CT scans. Most reputable implant dentists will use these tools to figure out the exact location for the placement of the implant post.
If you have any issues that may complicate things, you may require bone grafting. When you are looking for the best implant dentist, you want to find one that has extensive training beyond dental school. Implant dentistry, like cosmetic dentistry is not a designated specialty area within the field of dentistry, like you hinted at earlier. So any dentist can make the claim to be an implant dentist without any additional training. That is one of the main reasons there are so many failed dental implant procedures.
You will want to research the dentist you are interested in. Look online at their website to see what their credentials are and learn more about what kind of experience they have. You can ask to see examples of cases that are similar to yours and also look at their Google reviews or other online review websites. When you are looking at their biography, you’ll want to see extra training in implant dentistry. Another good indicator is if they are involved in professional memberships or organizations like the International Congress of Oral Implantology, the Academy of Osseointegration, and the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. These reputable organizations provide intensive training in dental implants, oral surgery and will help you separate an excellent implant dentist from a general, family dentist in your area.
Don’t be afraid to seek multiple opinions and see what the varying treatment plans end up being.
Hopefully, this is helpful as you continue your research to find the best implant dentist in your area.
This post is sponsored by Petaluma dentist Rick Lane, DDS.