Dental Implant Team
As the advancements in dental implant technology improve the process and increase the rates of success, more and more adults are looking to dental implants to replace their missing teeth. The process requires a combination of expertise in technique and an artistic touch to place a crown that will match the rest of the teeth in your mouth. Each step from the consultation to the surgery and to the maintenance of the dental implant relies on a team of dental professionals to leave you with a secure and natural looking tooth replacement. The team members will work with you and with each other to ensure success every step of the way.
The Team Members
Each case is different and each person’s needs are different for their dental implant, so your dental implant team may not have the same members as someone else’s but team may include a general dentist, oral surgeon, periodontist, endodontist, orthodontist, restorative dentist, dental hygienist, dental assistant, and office or business staff. The most important factor that the team should have is not as focused on the exact members but that each person is in communication with all the other people and with you as the patient. The free flowing and clear communication between dental implant team members is one of the main factors that will ensure the long term success of your dental implant.
Surgeon
If you are looking to a general dentist to perform your dental implant surgery, usually the same dentist will help you through the entire replacement tooth. If the general dentist does not suggest an oral surgeon and you do not need a bone or gum tissue graft, then you will not need to look to an additional professional for your dental implant procedure.
Restorative Dentist
The general dentist or the specialist who will guide you through the dental implant process from start to finish is also referred to as the restorative dentist. This dentist will be able to take into consideration your specific tooth replacement needs, your oral health, your overall health, your ability to heal and the density of your jawbone. From there, the dentist will be able to help you to determine the best material, placement, and timeline for your dental implant. The restorative dentist can orchestrate the inclusion of other team members to ensure you the highest rate of success in your dental implant process. Finally, the dentist will be able to help you with the best fitting and most natural looking prosthetic tooth to compliment the rest of your smile.
Dental Hygienist
An experienced dental hygienist can help you better understand the whole process and can help you remain comfortable during your treatments. While the hygienist will not perform any part of the surgeries, the hygienist will help with the maintenance of your dental implant during follow up dental appointments. You can look to the hygienist to instruct you on the changes to your at home dental care between appointments. The hygienist will work as a liaison between you and the surgeon at some points during and after the dental implant treatment.
Patient Selection
As many American adults experience permanent tooth loss as they age, more and more people are potential dental implant candidates. When the potential candidates come to the dentist office, the dental professionals will help determine if the patient can go from potential to confirmed. Just having a missing tooth or a tooth that needs to be replaced does not mean that you will be able to choose a dental implant to replace it. You will need to discuss your medications, chronic health conditions, history of infections, your ability to heal, any active periodontal disease, your smoking status, and your ability and willingness to complete dental hygiene. Having one or more issues does not mean that you will not qualify as a candidate for dental implants, but it may mean that your treatment team will have additional members to ensure the proper expertise for a successful implant.
If your dental implant process is a straightforward procedure without any foreseeable complications, then a general dentist with proper training and experience will be able to complete your dental implant. You will need to have a healthy and strong jaw bone that can support a dental implant, healthy gums that can heal well around the implanted post after the procedure, and a common placement of the dental implant itself. You and your health are just as important to the team as the dental professionals to ensure the long term success of your new, replacement tooth.