My dentist said I need three dental implants, and that I may need bone grafting before we can do the implants. The thing is, my dentist is really young, and I don’t think he has much experience with dental implants. My previous dentist retired, and recommended this dentist. I really like him, and he is very personable and seems competent, but I am just not sure how much experience or education he has in dental implants.
How do dentists generally determine if a person is a good candidate for the bone grafting procedure? Because of a boating accident, I had a dental bridge put in 17 years ago, when I was 16. You can really see the bone loss (three missing teeth) when you know what to look for.
Thanks for the information-I really like your blog.
Melody from Austin, TX
Dear Melody,
We’re glad you like the blog! We enjoy writing about dentistry issues that are of interest to people.
To determine whether or not someone is a good candidate for a bone graft procedure, your dentist will first and foremost look at your general health. If you are in good general health, he will further examine your x-rays and scans before making any kind of decisions about your treatment.
You are right to be wary about your dentist’s perceived lack of experience. We would certainly suggest that you question your dentist thoroughly about his education and experience with dental implants. If you are not comfortable with his answers, be honest with him and ask him to recommend you to someone who has experience with complicated cases like yours. Placing dental implants is not considered a separate specialty, but doing it well does require extensive training above and beyond the standard coursework in dental school.
If your dentist does not know who to recommend you to, you’ll have to do some of the legwork yourself. Look for a dentist with a website that lists strong credentials, including specifics about his or her experience and training in placing dental implants. Check his biography page and look for memberships in groups like the Academy of Osseointegration, or the International Congress of Oral Implantology, or the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Affiliation with any of those groups or evidence of coursework done through one of them is a good indication that the dentist is well educated and experienced.
This blog produced on behalf of York PA dentist Dr. Currie.