Question:
Who is the most qualified to do implants? I've heard of perio, oral surgeons
and general dentists who place implants. Is the ADA concidering making implant
dentistry a specialty in its on right? How does one get training in placing
implants...I assume there were be implant courses 3rd or 4th year, but are
there also con ed courses?
Answer:
All the above. Depends on training, #'s placed,
and skill of the dentist. Hard for laymen to judge.
Would suggest asking the treating dentist to
recommend several patients to call you who
underwent similar experience. Also a good
indicator is the amount of work up done on
you prior to undergoing implant therapy.
Not as of yet. Only 7 recognized specialties exist
Implantology is not one of them.
Most oral surgery and periodontic residencies
have added additional training time for residents
in their programs geared for implant dentistry.
Several schools such as NYU have a two year
additional training exclusively for implants therapy.
Besides schools and residency programs already
discussed, many hands on courses,
regular didactic courses
from several national implant organizations,
implant maufacturers offering both hands on
and didactic courses, etc.
An uneducated observation might be that periodontists are very good at
inserting implants but oral surgeons are better at pulling out
implants!
But I know this is warped thinking. Its up to the individual who is
best.
