What Is an Implantologist?

When first curious about dental implants, many patients will head straight to their usual dentist for advice and support. If their routine dentist doesn’t offer dental implant treatment, they will commonly refer the patient to a dentist with specialist training.

If you’ve been referred to an implantologist, don’t worry. You’re in good hands. It simply means that the dentist has more experience in the treatment you would like to explore, and this can only be a good thing.

What does an implantologist do?

An implantologist will typically specialise in placing dental implants. All implant dentists start out as regular dentists and undergo all of the same training. After qualifying as dentists and working as a regular dentist for a few years, it’s then possible to explore different areas of specialism. This could include orthodontics, endodontics or dental implants.

A dental implant dentist will go through additional training to learn how to place dental implants, how to carry out other necessary treatments like sinus lifts or bone grafts. They are also trained in treatment planning and aftercare support.

An implant dentist will usually work alongside a dental nurse and treatment coordinator to carry out the treatment and provide excellent patient care.

When should I visit an implantologist?

If you are not sure between visiting your usual dentist and an implantologist, don’t worry. In most cases, you can visit your usual dentist for advice and support. They can advise you on whether or not you need to visit an implant dentist. You could also visit an implant dentist in the following situations:

• You have decided you would like to have dental implant treatment and want to know if you are a suitable candidate.

• You have been told you are unsuitable for dental implants in the past, but have made changes to your lifestyle that mean you are now suitable. You might also want to seek a second opinion from a more experienced dentist.

• You’re in the middle of your treatment and are concerned about how your implants are healing.

• You’ve already had dental implant treatment and would like to check that they are healing correctly, or that you’re caring for them correctly from home.

What qualifications do you need to place dental implants?

To start with, all dental implants dentists start out as regular dentists. This requires 5 years of medical school training, followed by at least 2 years of dental practice. After this stage, a dentist might choose to take on additional training to be able to place implants.

This is commonly achieved through an MSc or PGDip programme. These courses take between 18 months and 3 years to complete, depending on whether the dentist studies full time or part time. These courses offer a mix of classroom based learning alongside clinical skills training.

Once qualified, the dentist is able to plan and carry out dental implant treatment plans. It’s also possible to further specialise in other areas of dental implants, such as All-On-4 treatment plans or zygomatic dental implants.

Is it cheaper to see an implantologist abroad?

We wouldn’t recommend it. While it may be cheaper, there are also significant risks. For example, you might see an implantologist for your consultation, but then you may be operated on by an implant student.

The language barrier can also make the process more daunting, as you won’t be informed if the treatment plan changes. And finally, if something goes wrong, you won’t have the legal protection that you would enjoy in the UK.

It is far safer to choose an implantologist in the UK for your treatment. If you are concerned about costs, speak to your dentist about payment plans to help you to spread the cost of your treatment.

Final thoughts

An implantologist is one type of specialist dentist you might need to visit if you’re thinking about dental implants. The easiest way to see an implant dentist is to visit your usual dentist and ask for a referral or a recommendation if they don’t already offer the treatment you want.