A few options exist for people with tooth loss who need a replacement. One of those is a moderately invasive surgical procedure to install dental implants, something not all dentists, including some general practitioners, have the capacity to perform. Click here for FAQs on dental implants.
Patients should be able to recognize the specific type of providers that fall into the category for performing the procedure. These can include prosthodontists, periodontists, maxillofacial surgeons, oral surgeons, and some general dentists, all with the potential to carry adequate qualifications.
When faced with such a broad spectrum, how do you identify the best of these options for your procedure? Consulting with your primary dentist allows the professional to explore possibilities for treatment compared with your specific needs allowing for the most educated decision.
It’s important to gain insight from your general dental provider for their recommendation, but also to do your due diligence in researching the varied options to find a specialist such as Nuvia Smiles, with experience in performing the procedure. Finding a team with years in the industry will offer a solid reputation and a sound following of patients who stand behind that reputation.
Let’s examine the individual specialties to learn specific details about these providers.
Who Can Perform The Surgery At A Dental Implant Center
You’ll find a few professionals with the capacity to perform dental implant surgery, leaving your options relatively open when you’re searching for the best provider to handle your surgery.
Some people grow hesitant about invasive dental procedures. Still, when you have tooth loss, there is more urgency with getting replacements despite the reluctance to undergo even something surgical in nature.
Implants are typically the choice over bridges and dentures since they give the appearance and feel of a natural tooth; plus, these are a more durable option. When you’re missing a tooth, it can become challenging to speak or eat, not to mention creating a lack of confidence when it comes time to smile.
In a more severe aspect, the remainder of the teeth can shift from their position, growing misaligned, creating an uneven bite when teeth are not replaced with resultant jaw pain and the possibility of lost bone. It’s crucial to replace lost teeth.
Once you’ve made the concrete decision to have the implants, from that point, it comes down to how to find the very best person to perform the procedure to relieve some of the fear and nervous knots many contend with before having it done.
If not capable of handling the process themselves, your general dentist can weigh the variables to make an educated decision as to the best specialist for the work.
It’s essential, though, that you also do some homework to learn about the varied types of dental professionals and their qualifications from the options your dentist provides to understand why these professionals were recommended. Let’s take a look at each professional and these qualifications.
General dentist
When you experience tooth loss, your regular dentist will advise the varied replacement options most suited to your specific circumstance. If dental implants will likely be a good fit, the provider recommends a specialist who can handle the surgery and makes a referral.
Sometimes, if the dentist has the necessary qualifications, the provider will do the surgery themselves. That’s usually in large practices where you’ll find numerous and varied dental providers allowing the patient to stay in one location for the entire process.
Many dentists have the necessary qualifications but are limited in their office regarding the special equipment, and many prefer to stick with general practice referring their special care patients to varied colleagues.
Oral / Maxillofacial Surgeons
Most commonly, dental implants are performed by maxillofacial or oral surgeons trained in general practice but then go back to school to train further.
The oral surgeon is responsible for various surgeries, including root canals and wisdom teeth extraction, but will also do fittings for crowns and dentures.
The maxillofacial surgeon will do these same things. Still, because these surgeons are advanced in their training, they can perform more specialized treatment, including working with reconstructions of the jaw and face, cancers involving the neck, facial area, or oral region, and treating the TMJ.
Anyone needing a bone graft before having their implants placed will see this professional.
Periodontist
Implant surgery is not this professional’s specialty; instead, they focus more on gum health. However, the provider can perform the surgery and will do so based on a patient’s needs.
For example, the gum surgeon might provide a prosthetic if the patient experiences tooth loss second to periodontal disease. Find out the differences between a periodontist and a prosthodontist at https://aptusexchange.com/news/prosthodontist-vs-periodontist-whats-the-difference/.
There is also the likelihood this individual will become involved if someone else performed the procedure, but the patient experienced complications while in the healing phase, like perhaps becoming infected.
Prosthodontist
A custom crown placement can be the final part of implant surgery for a single missing tooth. If many teeth are missing, dentures or bridges will be fitted to an implant. Often this process will be performed by the same professional who does the surgery.
Some people, however, will go to their general dentist for this step, or you can see a prosthodontist who specializes in repairing teeth or replacing damaged or missing teeth with artificial appliances.
These can and more often than not include dental implants. Many find this professional not only ideal for the final step but the perfect choice for the entire surgery. Read here the details of a prosthodontist.
Final Thought
Your oral health depends on replacing lost teeth. Among the favored procedures for doing this is dental implant surgery. You have a choice among qualified professionals to perform the surgery. Still, the best way to narrow your options is to consult your primary dentist and get a recommendation.
You can then do your homework to see which you feel most comfortable handling your specific needs based on your dental circumstances.
