Finding a specialist?

[abcdefghijklm]

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I just convinced my cousin(with some missing teeth, "gum problems") that implants are safe and worth the money, how should he go about finding a compentent specialist, what should he look for in dentists where he lives? Any OMFS? Young, old, years experience? Prostho? Perio 😉

 

[charlestweed]

It appears that your cousin has not seen a dentist regularly; that’s why several teeth are missing. The 1st person he/she needs to see is a general dentist (not a specialist). The dentist will perform full mouth exam, deep cleaning, and dental fillings. The dentist will then refer him/her to specialists for appropriate treatments….perio (for pocket reduction surgery), ortho (up-righting tipped molars), prosth (if the case is too difficult), perio or OMFS (implant placement).

what should he look for in dentists where he lives?

The dentist who uses perio probe and does perio charting.

 

[Wayne Coronado]

The dentist who uses perio probe and does perio charting.

Amen. 👍

 

[abcdefghijklm]

Yes, that is all done. He is getting perio maintenance. But he wants me to somehow recommend someone or something. (Guess he's concerned.) He does not completely trust current perio to do implants (don't know why)...

 

[charlestweed]

Your cousin should see a local prosthodontist. Prosth restore implants every day in their practices….so they are a lot better than most GPs. Prosth usually pay attention to details like crown position, crown contour, shade, canine guidance etc. They usually work with experienced lab technicians. After an initial consultation, the prosth will refer your cousin to see the most trusted surgeon (perio or OS) whom he/she regularly works with.

Your cousin must be willing to pay a lot of $$$ when he see a prosth. Prosth usually charges a consultation fee, diagnostic wax up fee (which will be used to make surgical guide), surgical guide (highly recommended for anterior restoration) fee etc. Sometimes, ideal implant placement cannot be achieved….the surgeon may recommend additional bone graft procedure…more $$$.

The captain of the restorative team is the prosthodontist (not the surgeon). He/she will tell the surgeon the # of implants that should be placed for a particular edentulous ridge. Therefore, I would recommend your cousin to see a prosth (or an experienced GP) first.

 

[Slutskya]

I just convinced my cousin(with some missing teeth, "gum problems") that implants are safe and worth the money, how should he go about finding a compentent specialist, what should he look for in dentists where he lives? Any OMFS? Young, old, years experience? Prostho? Perio 😉

I would rec. that your cousin see a prosthodontist too. They do SUPERB work. I've worked for a few general dentists and have been extremely impressed with the work of my current boss, a prosthodontist. The implant will probably be placed by an oral surgeon or periodontist but the implant crown should be done by a prosthodontist. That's just my opinion. If they just go to a general dentist, some general dentist might tell patients they can surgically place the implant. Yet sometimes general dentists don't know where to place it for the best result. A prosthodontist can make and give the other specialist the surgical stent they need. By the way, I'm a dental hygienist. I'll be starting dental school in the fall. Good luck!

 

[Prosthodontist]

I second charlestweed.
Prosthodontist is the one to consult.
Ask if the specialist places his own implants,that way
you save quite a bit,instead of being moved around btw
perio/OS for placements/sinus lifts if indicated.

There are very few Pros who are surgically trained,but if you find one,
you have someone who thouroughly understands the entire surgical and restorative process,thereby giving you the best aesthetic and functional results-worth the $$$$-most definetely!