Choosing to replace your missing teeth with dental implants means you’re about to make a long-term investment in your health, function, and quality of life. So, it makes sense that you’d want to choose the most qualified dentist to complete your treatment. These days, even general dentists are placing dental implants, though they often lack the years of training and education that others have.
While you can see just about any type of dentist for your dental implant surgery, it is important to know exactly how qualified and experienced each type is. These are generalizations, so always research the credentials and years of experience placing dental implants a dentist has, no matter what specialty they are.
General dentist
A general dentist, while the backbone of the dental industry, most likely hasn’t received intensive training in dental implants. Often, general dentists will attend continuing education courses later in their career to learn how to successfully place dental implants. A general dentist who occasionally places implants may not have the in-depth knowledge needed to complete more complex surgical cases.
Cosmetic dentist
A cosmetic dentist has a larger focus on the aesthetic side of dentistry. Though skilled in restoring dental implants, they most likely also won’t have training in dental implant placement unless they’ve completed continuing education courses. Like a general dentist, a cosmetic dentist might not have the experience to complete more advanced surgical treatments.
Periodontist
A periodontist has received additional years of training outside of dental school to specialize in diagnosing and treating problems with the gums, teeth, and bone, as well as training in dental implants. For patients with severe gum disease or bone loss, a periodontist has the training and expertise to provide personalized treatment for these problems before placing dental implants.
