When dental implants in San Antonio are placed correctly, they can last for decades or even a lifetime. Naturally, such a life-changing procedure should be left in the hands of a skilled dentist that you can fully trust. But how will you know when you’ve found the right one for the job? Luckily, there are a few things that can make the decision easier. Below are 4 tips for what to consider when choosing a dental practice for your upcoming dental implant procedure.
1. Check Their Expertise in Dental Implant Surgery
Many general dentists can perform dental implant surgery in-house, but you’ll generally get the highest quality care from someone who specializes in the treatment or has completed many successful surgeries in the past. The more training and experience they have, the more confident you can feel regarding the care they provide. Feel free to ask your dentist about their experience with implants so that you can judge for yourself whether you can entrust them with your smile.
2. Learn About the Technology Available at the Practice
Like any other dental procedure, implant surgery evolves as technology improves. It’s a good idea to check what sort of advanced instruments a practice uses before committing to a specific location. For example, you’ll want to see if they use 3D cone beam imaging, a technique for creating detailed digital models of the mouth, jaw, and other oral structures. This is an essential tool for planning implant placement, as it allows your dentist to identify potential complications ahead of time and adjust the treatment accordingly. (For example, they might find underlying nerves that they’ll want to avoid damaging with the implant.)
3. Check the Practice Location
It takes multiple visits to place and restore dental implants, which means you’ll be coming and going from the practice you choose a lot. As such, it’s important to make sure it’s in an accessible location so that you don’t have any trouble getting there from your home or workplace on a regular basis.
4. Learn What Other Patients Have to Say
Most practices nowadays have Google business pages or Yelp pages where patients can post reviews and share their real experiences. If you find a dentist you’re potentially interested in, one of the first things you’ll want to do is check existing reviews and see what the experience at their practice is really like. You might try looking for reviews specifically from implant patients, but even an idea of what treatment is like in general can be helpful.
Once you’ve found a dentist that you’re happy with, you should call and schedule a consultation right away. Once you’ve visited the practice in person and have learned more about the implant process, you should know for sure whether or not you’re ready to move forward with the process of repairing your smile.
About the Author
Dr. Zachary Brice studied at University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Dental School and continues to take educational courses to this day to further enhance his skills. He is an implant specialist that is able to both complete implant surgery and the restoration process. His practice, Brice Dental, is stocked with 3D cone beam scanners and other examples of advanced technology that make treatments more accurate and efficient. To schedule an implant consultation at his practice, Brice Dental, visit his website or call (210) 796-9421.