Who should you see for your dental implants?

If you’ve been considering dental implants, you might have noticed that both prosthodontists and some dentists advertise this tooth replacement procedure. However, that doesn’t mean they’re equally capable of delivering the best results. Choosing a prosthodontist for dental implants carries a wide range of benefits.

A prosthodontist is a dentist who deals with the restoration and replacement of teeth. A general dentist can often carry out many of the same procedures as a prosthodontist, but the prosthodontist has more training and experience in their specialty. 

With a prosthodontist, more patients can access more viable treatment options to restore their smiles. Here are a few more reasons you should consider seeing a prosthodontist for your dental implants.

1. Prosthodontists have much more training.

Any dentist you visit will have had significant education and training to get to the point of practicing. They’ll have gone through dental school and will be a licensed DDS or DMD. However, prosthodontists go through additional training in their specialization.

A prosthodontist must go through a three-year residency as part of the prosthodontic graduate program. That means three years of working with experienced prosthodontists to develop the unique skills they require.

After that additional training, a prosthodontist near Chico, CA, is better suited to provide prosthodontic treatment than a general dentist. They have a broader experience base and more specialized knowledge to deal with complex cases.

2. Prosthodontists can provide advanced treatment options.

When you visit a general dentist, they will be able to provide a wide range of treatment options. However, a prosthodontist can offer more specialized prosthodontic treatments.

Dentists often won’t offer dental implants due to the complexity of planning and carrying out the procedure. A prosthodontist for dental implants is much better suited to providing the best possible dental implant experience for patients.

A prosthodontist will also be able to provide a wider range of dental implant options. All-on-4 dental implants are full-mouth dental implants that can replace an entire mouth full of teeth. They’re a fantastic alternative to solutions like removable dentures. However, many general dentists won’t be able to provide you with this advanced treatment option.

3. Prosthodontists typically have state-of-the-art technology.

Whether you need All-on-4 dental implants or just a single crown, the latest technology can greatly improve your results. By working with a prosthodontist, you can be sure that they have access to the specialized techniques necessary to provide effective treatment.

3D intraoral scanners are among the latest such examples. These scanners develop high-resolution 3D images of your teeth and mouth that can be used to plan treatment. In some cases, the prosthodontist can even use the 3D scan to show you a detailed look at your expected results.

This 3D technology plays a vital role in planning dental implants. To ensure that patients are satisfied with their dental implants before and after, the 3D scans can be used to create 3D-printed guides for the procedure. These guides allow for incredibly precise placement and alignment during dental implant surgery.

4. Prosthodontists are more experienced with prosthodontic treatments.

If you’re seeing a general dentist for your dental implants, then you should consider that they might only very rarely deal with this type of treatment. Their day-to-day likely consists mostly of checkups and fillings. The patients who need advanced restoration like dental implants are often few and far between.

A prosthodontist deals with tooth replacement procedures every day. Whether crowns or dental implants, they work in a much more specialized range of cases. They have completed many more dental implant treatments over the course of their career than a general dentist.

5. They’re also better suited for complex cases.

While many general dentists can provide dental implants, this is generally only true for straightforward cases. However, some patients have much more complex cases that require more experience and training to deal with properly.

A prosthodontist can provide dental implants even when there are complicating factors. Many dental implant patients require bone grafts to ensure that the jawbone can support the implants. A general dentist won’t be able to provide this treatment, but a prosthodontist will.

6. General dentists will likely refer patients for surgery.

Dental implant treatment has two primary components. There is the surgical implantation of the dental implants into the jawbone and then the creation of a crown, a bridge, or All-on-4 replacements to cap the implants. A general dentist will likely have to refer patients elsewhere for surgery and can only provide the crowns.

A prosthodontist will have the means to complete the entire treatment process. Keeping the treatment under one roof can often make it go more smoothly.

Find out more about dental implants.

If you think dental implants could be right for you, you can contact My Chico Dentist today to schedule a consultation with our highly-trained prosthodontist, who specializes in implants and other restorative dentistry.