Replacing your missing tooth or teeth with dental implants can improve your quality of life tremendously, but it will require a surgical procedure.
While modern techniques and technology have made this procedure significantly more comfortable, that does not mean you should not be cautious about who you choose to do your dental implants.
It is common today for a general dentist to offer dental implants, and while there is no doubt that they have the skills and knowledge necessary to perform the procedure, we highly recommend you put your treatment in the hands of an experienced oral surgeon.
To help you get a better idea of why that is, we created this guide on what an oral surgeon can bring to the dental implant procedure that can make you feel more comfortable and confident on the day of your surgery.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a highly popular tooth replacement solution that involves the fusion of a titanium post to the jawbone area where the tooth was lost. A natural-looking prosthetic tooth is then attached to an abutment on the post, giving you the most stable, durable, natural-feeling replacement tooth available on the market.
The key aspect of the dental implant which differentiates it from other tooth replacement options is something called osseointegration, which is the process of the titanium post fusing to the jawbone.
This fusing not only gives the implant a level of support that no other tooth replacement option has, but it also stimulates bone growth, which can prevent a few issues, including altering the facial structure.
The Benefits of Opting for an Oral Surgeon for Your Dental Implants
There is no denying the skill, knowledge, and experience of any board-certified dental professional, but when it comes to certain procedures, there are specialists who are the best equipped to get the job done.
Here are just a few of the reasons why a board-certified oral surgeon is an ideal choice for a successful and comfortable dental implant procedure.
They Specialize in This Area
When you are undergoing any kind of surgical procedure, you want to choose someone who is highly experienced in the field to perform the procedure.
General dentists are highly experienced, but a board-certified oral surgeon has somewhere between four and six extra years of training in performing surgical procedures.
They Are Experienced in Handling Complications
The dental implant procedure has a high success rate and does not come with too many significant risks, but that does not mean you will not have complications that need to be addressed promptly.
An oral surgeon has a ton of experience with many potential complications and how to handle them, which means you can rest assured that you are in good hands.
They Can Perform Additional Procedures
Sometimes, in order to receive your dental implants, you will need to undergo another procedure beforehand.
For instance, if too much bone loss has occurred due to your missing tooth, your jaw may not be able to support an implant, and a bone graft procedure may be necessary. When this is the case, odds are you will need a doctor with surgical skills to perform the procedure.
Another example where additional procedures may be necessary is when your lost tooth was a result of dental trauma. If you had a tooth knocked out due to a high-impact incident, there is a good chance that other damage has been done to the surrounding areas.
Opting for an experienced doctor to perform the procedure in this instance can be the difference between fixing that damage and living with it indefinitely.
