Factors To Consider When Choosing The Ideal Dental Implant Surgeon

Dental implants are one of the most significant dentistry advancements in recent years. This safe and highly successful procedure can restore your smile and self-confidence. 

Dental implants are an investment in your oral health and overall appearance. But how do you go about selecting a dental implant surgeon? There are a lot out there. How can you narrow down the options to find the perfect one for you?

Here are five factors to consider when looking for an implant surgeon.

Education/Training

First of all, you'll want a licensed dental professional with comprehensive training in dental implants. Any dental surgeon can perform dental implant procedures, but that doesn't necessarily mean they have the appropriate training. Dental implant surgery is a specialist field, so you'll want to be sure your dental implant surgeon has taken the relevant courses.

Experience

Education and training on their own are not enough. How the dental implant surgeon puts them to use matters too. Practice gives dental professionals hands-on experience with the many different requirements that different patients have.

As a general rule, the more dental implant procedures your dental implant surgeon has performed, the more experienced they will be with the type of permanent tooth replacements you need.

Reputation

Before purchasing something or going to a new restaurant, you probably hop on the internet to see what other customers say. The same should be true when searching for a dental implant specialist. You can learn a lot from reading references and reviews from previous patients.

You may see a couple of negative reviews, but that's normal. Don't let one or two bad comments scare you away. What are the overwhelming majority of people saying?

A good surgeon with relevant experience will have built up a solid reputation. Reading a range of views and opinions from different people should give you a good idea of their reputation.

Also, if your regular dentist recommends a dental implant surgeon, they likely are a trusted professional.

Cost

Cost is going to have a significant bearing when weighing your options. However, don't be tempted by any super low-price options you may see out there. Some people opt to go abroad for implants because they can be considerably cheaper than here in the US. But this comes with several risks. They include no grounds for recourse if something goes wrong and varying hygiene standards.

Dental implants may seem expensive at first, but remember this is a hassle-free solution to tooth loss that will last for many years to come. It is fair to say that implants offer superb value for money.

At Chesterfield Dentistry, we'll give you an honest appraisal of your situation with a full breakdown of costs. We will never hit you with nasty surprises.

Empathy

You need to feel comfortable throughout your interactions with your dental implant surgeon, knowing they understand your needs well. Their bedside manner (attitude and conduct with a patient) is important.

When a doctor or surgeon talks down to people or is brisk, a patient is less likely to open up about their concerns which could have negative health consequences. Your dental implant surgeon should clearly explain the procedure to you and answer any questions you may throw at them. A good dental implant surgeon always takes great care of their patients.

Questions To Ask Dental Implant Surgeons

Once you've narrowed down your list of implant surgeons based on qualities such as experience, visit the offices of your top choices for a consultation. During this time, you'll get a feel for what they're like and can ask them a few key questions to help you make up your mind. These might include:

• How long have you been placing dental implants? Every dental professional needs to start somewhere, but experience counts.

• How many implants have you placed? This is not the same question as above. You may have someone who only performs half a dozen implants a year yet has a decade of experience. That's not in the same league as someone who places dental implants every single week.

• What training have you had? For example, was it a university-based program or an extensive training course offered by other recognized institutions?

• What types of difficulties have you had, and how have you overcome them? This will give you a good idea of the dental implant surgeon's competence and honesty. Dental implant surgery has a high success rate of over 90%, but it's not 100%, so failures in someone's work history are not unusual.

• What are the type and brands of dental implants you use? Alongside the importance of your surgeon's skills is the quality of the implants. Asking your surgeon about the type and brand of tooth replacements they use gives you time to research them on the internet. 

Why Choose Chesterfield Dentistry?

If you are looking for an experienced, qualified dental implant surgeon in Missouri, look no further. We are the ones you can trust. Melba Akinwande, DDS, is an experienced cosmetic dental surgeon who graduated from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. Additionally, Dr. Akinwande completed a general practice residency at the prestigious University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where she performed more complex procedures and surgeries.

For more information about how we can replace your missing or damaged teeth with dental implants, contact us for a free consultation. Getting a healthy smile can change your life.