Dental Implant FAQs

Training to place implants can vary greatly. Everything from weekend courses and online tutorials, to rigorous classes and long-term continuums.

While it’s difficult to judge the quality of any of these courses, we do know that those committed to clinical success tend to align together. Ask about professional associations such as the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID). This group requires at least 300 hours of additional education surrounding implants.

While everyone has to start somewhere, they don’t need to start with you. This is a fairly complex (and safe) medical procedure and experience will go a long way. The biggest tip here is to ask how MANY implants they’ve placed, not simply how long. There are some docs that will place more implants in one month that some folks ever will.

Now, don’t let this scare you. On occasion, the implant simply doesn’t take and the processes to correct the implant may vary. Failures rate vary widely and if does happen to you, you’ll want to understand the process. The doctor should put you at ease and let you know that it does happen and there’s no need to worry.

If you could drive any car in the world, what would it be? Now, if you could drive only one car for the rest of your life, what would it be? Amazing, how your criteria changes. Everyone has a budget, and implants are certainly an investment. However, bargain shopping for medical procedures might not be the best long-term plan for cost savings. Ask what financial options are available. Everyone deserves the best care available.

You should be excited about your new smile, both aesthetically and functionally. If you’ve been living with an uncomfortable solution, your life is about to improve immensely.

Always ask to see before and after’s. Ideally a case similar to yours. Most people want to feel good and they want to look good. Implants should accomplish both of these goals.

Sometimes the implant is completed by a surgeon & the abutment/crown is completed by a restorative dentist. Each one will give you the fee for the phase he performs. In most cases, if a tooth has to be extracted, the extraction & bone grafting will be needed & a fee will be charged separately for those procedures by the surgeon as well. This common but fragmented approach can be confusing for the patient & multiple visits to multiple locations & doctors are required. If a problem develops, you need to establish up front who is going to be responsible? In most cases dental insurance is of no value.

You should be excited about your new smile, both aesthetically and functionally. If you’ve been living with an uncomfortable solution, your life is about to improve immensely.