Dental implants have the potential to change your life. You don’t want to blow that opportunity on a dentist who can’t guarantee the best results. So, how do you know if a dentist is qualified to place dental implants?
Take the time to interview your potential implant dentist to find out whether you can have confidence in his or her skill level. Whether you are replacing just one single tooth or a full arch of teeth, you want your implants to be optimally placed for stability and function. Since every mouth is unique, the only way you can make sure you are getting an excellent dentist is to find one who has performed the procedure on a wide variety of cases and is prepared to handle any complicating factors.
Sadly, in many states dentists are only required to complete an online training course before they are legally able to offer dental implants. That’s a scary thought! If you want to make sure your implant surgery will be successful, we suggest you look at three factors: training, history, and technology.
Training and Education
Anyone can claim they are experts with dental implants, but you will want to ask your potential implant dentist about specifics. Find out what education and training has gone into this claim. Was the dentist’s implant training a part of their degree program, or did he or she pursue continuing education courses to master dental implants?
Don’t be afraid to ask:
- How many hours of training did you receive?
- What courses have you taken?
- Where did you do your training?
- Who did you train with?
As a patient, you shouldn’t have to research dental implant training to ask these questions. The best dentists will be able to explain their answers, so you get a clear picture of how much time and energy has gone into their background.
History
The best way to predict how successful your implants will be is to look at a dentist’s track record. It’s not rude to inquire about the implant procedures a dentist has performed–and any dentist who isn’t willing to share this information may not have enough experience to be able to handle complex cases. These questions can give you a clear picture of how experienced the doctor really is.
Ask your prospective implant dentist:
- How many implant procedures have you performed?
- How many did you do last year?
- How many (your specific procedure) have you done in total?
- What is your success rate?
Overall, dental implants have about a 98 percent success rate. This is already pretty high, so if your dentist’s success rate is considerably lower than that, find out why. If a dentist is fairly new to dental implants, he or she may only be able to handle standard cases. If you have any mitigating factors, such as health conditions or bone mass issues, you want a dentist who has lots of experience with cases like yours.
Technology and Cutting Edge Techniques
The best dentists leave nothing to chance when planning dental implant surgery. Using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and digital imaging software, dentists can now map out exactly where the implants should be placed in a virtual model of your precise facial dimensions. Traditional radiography can show the bones of the face, but it does not show the precise measurements in 3D and doesn’t map out the soft tissues where implant abutments will be placed. Many dentists even use computer guidance during surgery, so that each angle is precisely calculated to give you ideal implant placement.
Ask your dentist question like these:
- What technology or advanced techniques do you use in assessing candidacy for implants?
- What technology do you use in case planning?
- What technology or advanced techniques do you use during implant surgery?
Without high tech imaging and scanning tools, a dentist is pretty much “eyeballing it” when they place your implants. This is a scary proposition, since every patient may have unique anatomical factors that should be considered ahead of treatment.
At Fresno Dental Studio, Dr. Claudia Denes has the training and experience to make your implants a success. If you are considering dental implants in the Fresno, CA area, contact our office at 559-297-1294 to learn more about our unique qualifications and history with dental implants.