What Type of Dentist Does Dental Implants? Your Guide to Choosing the Right Specialist

That first time your dentist mentions dental implants, it’s easy to picture a new version of fake teeth—something only for older people or only for really tough cases. But as more people want strong, natural-feeling solutions for missing teeth, dental implants have become pretty common. If you’re asking, “What type of dentist does dental implants?” you’re not alone! A lot of people start with this question. It’s a good question to ask. Your teeth are for life, and you want the right person helping you out.

Let’s go into who actually does dental implant work, why finding someone with experience matters, and how you can move forward with confidence. If you’re worried about getting lost in dentist talk or being fooled by ads, don’t worry. This guide is here to help—friendly, clear, and made to give you real answers.

In This Article

• Understanding Dental Implants: A Foundation for Your Smile
• The Main Specialists Who Place Dental Implants
• Can a General Dentist Do Dental Implants?
• The Team Approach: Working Together for Best Results
• Key Things to Look for in Your Implant Dentist
• The Dental Implant Process: Who Does What at Each Step?
• Questions to Ask Your Implant Dentist
• Are Dental Implants Right for You?
• Important Tips to Move Forward

Understanding Dental Implants: A Foundation for Your Smile

Let’s start simple: What are dental implants?

A dental implant is a small screw—usually made of titanium or zirconia—that acts like the root of a real tooth. Your dentist or a specialist puts it in your jawbone. Over time, the bone grows around the implant in a process called osseointegration. On top of this “fake root,” your dentist connects a piece (the abutment) and then a tooth-shaped cap, bridge, or even a full denture.

Why get dental implants?

Think of an implant like the base under your house. With a strong base, everything on top is steady and safe. If you’re missing one or more teeth, implants:

• Give you back full chewing power (eat apples again—really!)
• Stop bone loss and sagging in your face (which can happen with missing teeth)
• Don’t slip or click, unlike regular dentures
• Look and feel real, blending in with your other teeth

No wonder over 90% of patients say they’re happy in the long run with their dental implants.

The Main Specialists Who Place Dental Implants

Here’s where things get tricky: While all dentists go to dental school, not every dentist is trained to put in implants. As dental tools and methods have improved, a few dental specialists have become the main experts.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (Oral Surgeons)

When it comes to dental surgery, these dentists are the experts. Oral surgeons finish dental school and then study several more years, focusing on serious mouth problems—like wisdom teeth removal, jaw bone work, and yes, putting in dental implants.

When should you see an oral surgeon?

If you have tricky bone problems, had implant trouble before, need several implants, or bone or sinus surgery, an oral surgeon is usually the best choice. Their extra training in face and jaw surgery can really help in hard cases.

Periodontists

Periodontists are the gum and bone experts—dentists who work on your gums and the bone around your teeth. Dental implants depend on good gums and strong jawbone.

What makes periodontists special?

They make sure the spot for your implant is healthy. Periodontists are very good at treating gum disease before and after implants, and they know how to do bone grafts if you need more support for your implant.

Prosthodontists

Prosthodontists are the “tooth makers.” After dental school, they learn all about replacing missing teeth—not just with implants, but with caps (crowns), bridges, and dentures. Their skills are in making sure your new tooth fits, looks good, and works right.

Why see a prosthodontist?

If you care most about how your smile looks, or need a big fix (like a full set of teeth with bridges and implants), a prosthodontist knows how to plan and design the best look. Some prosthodontists can put in implants themselves if they’ve learned the surgery, but most work together with oral surgeons or periodontists for the surgery part.

Can a General Dentist Do Dental Implants?

Here’s a big question: Can your usual dentist do implants? The answer: sometimes.

The Role of a General Dentist in Implant Dentistry

Lots of regular dentists take extra classes in putting in dental implants after dental school. Some get very good at it, especially for simple one-tooth cases in healthy mouths. They usually focus on the restoration step (putting the crown, bridge, or denture on the implant), but some do both the surgery and restoration.

What’s the catch?

Some general dentists have a lot of hands-on practice, but others may have just gone to a short class. What matters most is how much experience they have and what type of cases they handle. General dentists usually send you to a specialist for harder surgeries, lots of implants, or if your health makes things more risky.

Importance of Extra Training and Experience

Here’s a good tip: The more complicated your need, the more you should look for a specialist. Big surgical cases almost always need a periodontist or oral surgeon, sometimes with a prosthodontist for the finished tooth.

But for simple cases in healthy people, a well-trained general dentist can be a good and less expensive choice. Always ask about your dentist’s implant skills and experience.

The Team Approach: Working Together for Best Results

Getting dental implants is a team effort. Even in simple cases, a good team—specialist and your regular dentist—gives you the best chance for a good outcome.

How does the team work?

• Surgical phase: An oral surgeon or periodontist checks your bone and gums, then puts the implant in exactly the right place using special images and planning.
• Restorative phase: Your prosthodontist or general dentist takes impressions and works with the implant dental lab to make a custom new tooth or teeth.
• Follow-up: Your regular dentist checks your implant and gums during normal visits.

Working together is most important if you’re getting a full set of teeth, need bone work, or have other health issues.

Key Things to Look for in Your Implant Dentist

Choosing the right dentist for your implant is about more than just picking the first name you see or the lowest price. Here’s what to check (and ask about):

Experience and Extra Training

• Does your dentist or specialist have special implant training or classes from good groups?
• How many implants have they done, and do they often do cases like yours?
• Can they do bone or sinus surgery if needed?

Experience matters. People who’ve done more implants have better results, especially with harder cases. Ask to see before-and-after photos if possible.

Board Certification and Specialty

Look for board certificates in oral surgery, periodontics, or prosthodontics from good organizations like the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery or the American Board of Periodontology. Certification means extra knowledge and skill.

Tools and Methods Used

• Do they use digital planning tools, like 3D scans?
• Do they use guides to help put the implant in the right place?
• What type of implant material do they use—like titanium or zirconia?

New tools are not just for show—they really help make sure your implant fits right and stays healthy.

Patient Reviews and Stories

Check reviews or ask for stories from people who have had implants with that dentist. Happy patients can matter as much as certificates.

Communication and Feeling Comfortable

During your first appointment, you should feel listened to and respected. Good dentists explain each step in words you understand, answer your questions, and never push you to rush the decision.

Full Consultation

Your first visit should include:

• Detailed health and dental history
• Good X-rays or a 3D scan
• Checks of your gums and bone
• A talk about all treatment choices (not just implants!)
• A treatment plan made just for you

If the visit feels too quick or not complete, it’s okay to ask for another opinion.

The Dental Implant Process: Who Does What at Each Step?

Let’s break down how a dental implant goes from idea to real tooth. Knowing who handles each step can help you feel more confident.

First Check-Up and Planning

• Things usually start with your dentist, prosthodontist, or implant specialist.
• They check your teeth, gums, and jaw with X-rays or 3D scans and talk about what you need.
• For tough cases, a team might look at your plan together.
• Your impressions may go to a digital dental lab for planning and custom guides.

Surgery to Place the Implant

• The surgical step is when the titanium or zirconia screw goes into the jawbone.
• Most of the time, an oral surgeon or periodontist does this part, especially for bone or sinus work or multiple implants.
• For simple, single implants in good bone, an experienced general dentist may also do the surgery.

Healing and Bone Joining (Osseointegration)

• Over the next 3–6 months, your bone grows around the implant and holds it tight. It’s like concrete setting around a fence post—each week it gets stronger.
• You might get a temporary tooth to use in the meantime.

Connecting the Abutment and Tooth

• After healing, your dentist or prosthodontist puts on the abutment (the connector piece) and then the final tooth cap, bridge, or denture.
• This is where matching the color to your other teeth and fixing your bite really matters; a skilled crown and bridge lab can help everything look natural.

Regular Care

• Just like real teeth, implants need brushing, flossing, and checkups.
• Your regular dentist checks your gum health, jawbone, and implant at your visits.
• Even great implants can have problems without good care.

Questions to Ask Your Implant Dentist

You should ask your dentist questions—think of it like an interview. Here are some smart ones:

• How many dental implants have you done, and what’s your success rate?
• What training/education have you had in dental implants?
• What if things go wrong—how do you fix them?
• Do you place the implant, restore it, or both? Will another dentist be part of my team?
• What tools and tech do you use? (Like 3D scanning, guided surgery)
• Can I see before-and-after pictures of cases like mine?
• What might go wrong in my situation, and how do you handle it?
• How do I take care of my implant after?
• Is an implant the best choice for me, or should I look at other options?

If a dentist can’t or won’t answer, or seems annoyed, that’s a bad sign.

Are Dental Implants Right for You?

Dental implants are amazing, but not for everyone. Who’s a good fit?

You’re probably a good fit if:

• You have one or more missing teeth
• Your jaw is fully grown and strong enough to hold an implant
• Your gums are healthy (no active gum problems)
• Your health is good overall (bad diabetes or some medicines can slow healing)
• You don’t smoke, or can quit (smoking makes implants fail more often)

You might NOT be a good fit if:

• You have gum disease, not enough bone, or health problems that make surgery risky
• You take some medicines (like ones for bone loss)
• You are a heavy smoker

Still, even “not perfect” cases can work with bone grafts or other special planning. Always have a full check-up. Sometimes a removable denture or something else works better for you.

The Numbers Behind Dental Implants: Data You Can Trust

Success Rates:

Most dental implants work 95–98% of the time over 10 years in healthy people. If specialists use the best planning, your chances are even better.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

With good care, implants can last at least 20 years—many people have theirs even longer. Good brushing and dentist visits are key.

Specialist vs. Regular Dentist:

About 60–70% of implants are put in by periodontists or oral surgeons. Complications are less common with specialists for hard cases.

Patient Experience:

Dental implants don’t just last—they change lives. Over 90% of people say they eat better, talk clearer, and feel more confident after getting implants.

Important Tips to Move Forward

Here’s your step-by-step to make the best choice:

• Not all dentists do implants. Complicated cases are best with a specialist.
• Oral surgeons and periodontists usually do the surgery. Prosthodontists and trained general dentists restore and sometimes place implants in simple cases.
• Ask about experience, training, and tools—these matter a lot.
• Look for a team approach if your case is tricky or needs more than one part.
• Take good care of your implant with brushing and dental visits for many years of success.
• Get another opinion or talk to several dentists if you’re unsure.

You’ve got this. With good info and a skilled dentist, dental implants can give you back your comfort, your smile, and your confidence.

Want to know more or see step-by-step advice? Check out our guides about dental problems and dental implant procedures.

A healthy, complete smile isn’t just a dream—it’s possible!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can my regular dentist do implants, or should I see a specialist?

A: For simple cases, a well-trained general dentist can sometimes do it. More difficult or bigger implant cases should go to specialists like oral surgeons or periodontists.

Q: Are dental implants painful?

A: Most people feel less pain than they expected. The area gets numbed and you might feel a little sore for a few days.

Q: How long does the process take?

A: Usually three to six months from start to finish. This gives time for the bone to heal around the implant.

Q: What if I’m not a candidate?

A: No worries! Things like bridges, partial dentures, or regular dentures might work for you. Sometimes bone grafts can make implants possible later.

Q: How do I find the best implant dentist near me?

A: Look for board-certified oral surgeons, periodontists, or prosthodontists with a good record. Meet them, ask questions, and trust your feelings.

No matter where you are in this journey, keep asking questions, keep learning, and remember—a healthy mouth makes a healthier you. If you’re ever stuck, your regular dentist can help guide you to the right specialist.