A Dental Implant Is Important (and So Is Where You Get It)

Here at Comfort Care Family Dental, we believe that f you need dental implants, you’re wise to attend to the need as soon as you can manage it. Tooth replacement can prevent further oral health problems and even problems with your overall health. Restoring the appearance of your smile can do wonders for your social life, partly because it boosts your self-confidence and partly because it improves the way others respond to you.

But once you make the critical decision for have a dental implant procedure, you need to decide where you’re going to get it. Not all practitioners offering tooth replacement are the same, and the differences can make a big difference in how smoothly the tooth implant procedure goes and how satisfied you’ll be with the result. Here, then, are some guidelines to help you choose.

The Dental Implant: General Dentist vs. Dental Implant Specialist

The general dentist is qualified to perform a number of dental procedures such as filling cavities and installing crows.

General dentists who receive focused additional training can be certified to perform tooth implant procedures. But it isn’t nearly as much additional training as periodontists, prosthodontists, oral surgeons, and maxillofacial surgeons receive.

Periodontists and prosthodontists go to school for an additional three years after finishing dental school. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons go for extra years of training followed by a year of anesthesia training. All these specialists come away with far more expertise when it comes to providing a dental implant.

That matters because a tooth implant is a complex procedure. You want a specialist with the know-how to avoid problems and deliver the best possible outcome. Specifically, you should consult a specialist because a specialist can:

• Minimize the risk of complications
• Provide the highest-quality aesthetics. The specialist’s training, technology, and state-of-the-art equipment ensure that the dental implant, the gum where it’s implanted, and your smile will look natural and appealing.
• Provide the possible best treatment for the gum diseases and infections that may have necessitated the tooth implant procedure in the first place.

Okay, but Which Dental Implant Specialist?

Once you decide you want a specialist to perform the dental implant procedure, you’ll want to find one who inspires complete confidence. Naturally, you should make sure the individual you’re considering is certified to perform dental implant procedures by the American Dental Association (the ADA) and the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (the AAID.) Beyond that, here are some questions that are worth asking the specialist, the specialist’s support team, (you should be able to meet with them prior to scheduling an appointment to actually receive the dental implant) and yourself.

• How convenient will it be for you to keep your appointments? This depends on the specialist’s office hours and where the office is located. It also depends on how long it takes to get an appointment and how long patients typically have to wait in the waiting room
• Where exactly did the specialist attend school, how much training did he or she receive, and does he or she participate in relevant continuing education?
• Is the dental equipment modern and in good condition?
• Is the office as clean and well organized as a medical office should be?
• Are emergency services available? What kind, and on what basis? In the best of all possible worlds, you would like them to be available 24/7.
• What will the dental implant procedure cost? If you have a dental plan, does the professional’s office participate in it? Either way, does it seem that the office is being candid about your out-of-pocket costs?
• How clearly do the specialist and the support team explain your particular oral health situation and the measures they propose to address it? When you have questions, do they give you the information you’re looking for?

Further Tips for Choosing a Dental Implant Specialist

You can ask friends who have had a tooth implant. They can recommend professionals who did an excellent job and advise you to steer clear of someone who provided a less than satisfactory experience.

You can also read reviews. One good source of dental implant specialist reviews is RealSelf.com. Patients describe their experiences and also post photos of their mouths so you can, to a degree, judge the results for yourself.

Finally, check out the AAID’s Search Tool. Sorting according to ZIP code and a mile radius of your choice, it can find certified dental implant specialists in any area including the Naperville, IL area. It will even show you maps to their offices.

Notes on the Cost of a Dental Implant

Let’s be honest and acknowledge that tooth implants are pricey. A single dental implant can cost between $3000 and $4500, and many patients need more than one. X-rays and bone grafts can jack up the price even further, $25-$200 for the former and $250 to $3000 for the latter. If there’s a need for multiple visits, that can run the cost up, too.

Because of its contribution to oral health, general health, your self-confidence, and interactions with others, nearly every patient soon finds a tooth implant is worth the price. Still, you may want to take measures to economize as much as possible.

One option is to consider a dental savings plan. These start at just $97 a year and can save you up to 60% when you go to the see the dentist.

Another possibility is “dental tourism.” Some Americans go to Mexico, Costa Rica, or Ecuador for less expensive dental implant procedures. Obviously, distance and language barriers can make it more difficult to learn all about the dental implant specialist before receiving the tooth implant just as they can make it harder to get a quick remedy if a problem arises after you have it.

At Comfort Care Family Dental, we can honestly say that our team of dental implant experts meets all the exacting criteria outlined above. If you live in or near Naperville, IL and need a tooth implant procedure, call us today at 630-369-0111 and we’ll be happy to assist you.