Oral Surgeon vs. Periodontist for Dental Implants
Oral Surgeon vs. Periodontist for Dental Implants
As the use of dental implants has become more widespread, dental implant placement procedures, primarily the domain of oral and maxillofacial surgeons for decades, have begun to be offered by a range of dental professionals. Over the past ten years or so, periodontists have emerged as prominent providers of implant surgeries, second only to oral surgeons. While more providers are an advantage in terms of implant availability, it can also make the task of choosing one more confusing for patients. Oral surgeon vs. periodontist? Which to choose for dental implants?
Oral Surgeon vs. Periodontist: Education, Training and Qualifications
Oral surgeons and periodontists are both highly-trained dental specialists. However, there are some distinct differences between the two in terms of education, training and qualifications.
Periodontists, after completing general dentistry training via dental school, receive two to three years of post graduate training in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gum disease, which involves training in some surgical procedures, including dental implant placement procedures. Among their areas of expertise are:
- Preventive periodontal care
- Surgical and non-surgical treatment of gum disease
- Soft tissue grafting
- Minor bone grafting
- Cosmetic gum surgeries
- Dental implant placement
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons, after dental school and four to six years in an accredited, hospital-based surgical residency program, are highly trained and qualified in all aspects of oral and facial surgery and anesthesia. During surgical residency, they train with residents in internal medicine, general surgery and anesthesiology, as well as otolaryngology, plastic surgery, and emergency medicine. Among their many areas of expertise are:
- Extraction of teeth, including wisdom teeth
- Dental implant placement
- Minor and major bone grafting
- Sinus lift procedures
- Diseases of the teeth and their supporting soft and hard tissues
- Diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer
- Orthognathic, or corrective jaw surgery
- Head and neck trauma and injuries to the face, jaws, mouth and teeth
- TMJ treatment
- Anesthesia and IV sedation
Oral Surgeon vs. Periodontist for Dental Implant Placement?
On the question of oral surgeon vs. periodontist for dental implants, both are well trained in implant dentistry. However, oral and maxillofacial surgeons do hold advantages in terms of overall medical, surgical and anatomical training, as well as expertise in anesthesia. These are factors that can influence dental implant success rates as well as patient comfort and satisfaction, particularly in more complex dental implant procedures where supportive surgeries are necessary, such as bone grafts and/or sinus augmentation, or in cases where health issues increase complication risks.
That said, it is important for patients to know that oral surgeon vs. periodontist is just one aspect of choosing the best provider. Skill and experience are just as important as the type of dental specialist you choose, so be sure to ask how many procedures your provider has completed and inquire about his or her overall success rates with dental implant placement.