Who do GPs refer to for implant placements - periodontists or oral surgeons?

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GAdawg94

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I have shadowed at an OMFS practice and they do a few implants.

On the other hand, a large group practice goes through and every patient that needs an implant goes to see the periodontist that comes in twice a month and she does about 20-30 implants a month through this (sometimes comes in on weekends if theres a lot). And the GP referring told me she feels more comfortable sending implants to a periodontist than OMFS..

And at another practice an endodontist does a few implants. And my aunt got hers from a prosthodontist. What is the rationale for each speciality claiming implants as a part?

So the figures quoted by the ADA for perios being lower average income yearly maybe misleading??

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It varies widely. Your sample size is 1. Hardly enough info to answer your question.
 
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I shadowed a periodontist for a couple days and I worked at an oral surgeons office for a year before school. The OS placed anywhere from 8-12+ implants a day, periodontist maybe 2-3. I'm sure it's situational on who the doctor is and his/her skill but I feel more inclined to send to an OS from my experience. My mom got one from the same periodontist too, cost twice as much as the OS charged and she wasn't put to sleep.
 
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It is case by case and you can't generalize it. You can find an oral surgeon who places more implants than other specialist in town or periodontist who receive more referrals. But the last thing you want to do is making your decision based on average income.
 
It's going vary based on a number of factors.

Take this for what it is...there periodontists referring implant/bone grafting cases to OMFS due to it being beyond their capabilities. However, I have never heard of that being the case going from OMFS to perio.
 
Depends on where you are located, who's around you and who do you think will do a better job...

Anyone can sink an implant.. the question is, do they REALLY know what they are doing (or in the case of GP that places them, are they cowboying their way through)?
 
Depends on where you are located, who's around you and who do you think will do a better job...

Anyone can sink an implant.. the question is, do they REALLY know what they are doing (or in the case of GP that places them, are they cowboying their way through)?

Oral surgeons have the added benefit of being able to sedate their patients while performing the implant placement. My patients prefer to be asleep during this invasive procedure. I refer about 400 implants a year for placement. My opinion.
 
I have shadowed at an OMFS practice and they do a few implants.

On the other hand, a large group practice goes through and every patient that needs an implant goes to see the periodontist that comes in twice a month and she does about 20-30 implants a month through this (sometimes comes in on weekends if theres a lot). And the GP referring told me she feels more comfortable sending implants to a periodontist than OMFS..

And at another practice an endodontist does a few implants. And my aunt got hers from a prosthodontist. What is the rationale for each speciality claiming implants as a part?

So the figures quoted by the ADA for perios being lower average income yearly maybe misleading??


I know some very talented GPs that have completed fellowships and place a lot of implants, and I have some friends that are Periodontists that place implants, there are some Endodontists that place implants, and OMS that place implants..I guess it depends on your comfort level and your referral list.
 
As an aside, some periodontists may be more comfortable with soft tissue grafting techniques which can be important when placing or uncovering implants in the aesthetic zone. I am sure there are OMFS who do this as well, but I am sure that periodontists are taught these techniques in training. Just my 2cents.
 
Anybody can place an implant but OMFS are more aggressive, they don't care about soft tissue and they don't know anything about occlusion, they think because they are surgeon implant is in their scope, placing an implant is not a big deal, implant maintenance is important, Periodontist is the person who is taking care of soft tissue and Prosthodontist is the person who is restore it. That's why Upenn offers Perio-Prostho combine program, mostly implant, and Loma Linda and other implant postgrad programs mostly focusing on Perio and Prosthodontics.
These 2 specialist are my first choice.
 
Anybody can place an implant but OMFS are more aggressive, they don't care about soft tissue and they don't know anything about occlusion, they think because they are surgeon implant is in their scope, placing an implant is not a big deal, implant maintenance is important, Periodontist is the person who is taking care of soft tissue and Prosthodontist is the person who is restore it. That's why Upenn offers Perio-Prostho combine program, mostly implant, and Loma Linda and other implant postgrad programs mostly focusing on Perio and Prosthodontics.
These 2 specialist are my first choice.

I do not think you can make a blanket statement about OMFS like that. I know many OMFS who place excellent endosteal implants and are well versed in occlusion. They also handle soft tissue well. You may not know the right people. Implant maintenance may be the part of this field which goes unnoticed until a problem arises, and all clinicians...GP, Perio, Prostho, and OMFS should be well versed in this.
 
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At the group practice I worked for the periodontist and oral surgeon both placed lots of implants. There was no real preference made, and was mostly determined by availability. The prosthodontist then took over after the implant placement. The periodontist placed more because the oral surgeon had lots of 3rds to chuck.
 
Anybody can place an implant but OMFS are more aggressive, they don't care about soft tissue and they don't know anything about occlusion, they think because they are surgeon implant is in their scope, placing an implant is not a big deal, implant maintenance is important, Periodontist is the person who is taking care of soft tissue and Prosthodontist is the person who is restore it. That's why Upenn offers Perio-Prostho combine program, mostly implant, and Loma Linda and other implant postgrad programs mostly focusing on Perio and Prosthodontics.
These 2 specialist are my first choice.
 

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