Why Choose A Dental Implant
“Specialist”?
It is important to remember that with any surgical
procedure, there are inherent risks that could be alleviated with experience.
Dental implants are becoming a more
common and desired option for tooth replacement.
Dental implants have such a high success rate (95-97% for
30+ years). This high success rate is
likely due to the fact that most implants have been placed by highly skilled
specialists (oral surgeons and periodontists) who completed surgical residency
programs. These surgical specialists have an in-depth knowledge of surgical
techniques, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of potential
complications.
The comprehensive training and experience of the surgical
specialists (oral surgeons and periodontists) enable them to diagnose and manage
the potential complications that can occur with surgical
procedures.
Some general dentists, prosthodontists, and endodontists
have attended specialized training courses on surgical implant placement and
have achieved very successful results placing implants for their patients.
However, they may not always feel comfortable managing and treating potential
complications that are routine for surgical specialists. As a result, some
patients have experienced serious implant failures and complications that could
have been possibly avoided if they had been treated by surgical
specialists.
If you are considering dental implants or any other
surgical procedure, the following questions can help you make an informed
decision about your treatment and your oral health.
1) What is your specialty?
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons and periodontists are the
only ADA recognized surgical specialists.
As
periodontist, Dr.
Britten specializes
in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease, the
placement of dental implants and bone grafts, and treatment of oral
inflammation. Periodontists also perform cosmetic periodontal
surgery.
Dr. Britten has received an additional three years of
specialty education and surgical training beyond dental school.
2) What is the extent of your training and experience in
implant placement?
Oral surgeons and periodontists will be more than willing
to share their extensive training and experience with you.
If you are considering implant treatment provided by a
non-surgical dentist, ask specific questions about the implant training courses
they attended, such as the name of the courses, dates, duration, and
sponsorship. You should also ask how many courses they attended on the
management of complications and may even want to ask how many implants they have
placed.
3) Ask to
speak to other patients. Their
experiences can be invaluable in determining if you are in good
hands.
4) Speak to
the staff about dental implants. If they cannot
answer your questions, the office probably does not provide implant procedures
on a regular basis.
5) Ask to see
before and after photos of cases. Surgicals
specialists have likely performed hundreds, or even thousands, of implant
procedures and are usually happy to share their successful case results with
you.
If you have any additional questions regarding dental implants, please contact our office at 727-586-2681 or visit our website at www.brittenperio.com. Thanks!