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When considering any type of oral procedure or surgery, it’s important that due diligence is done on the potential dental professionals you are considering. Doing so can ensure that you receive optimal care and a successful outcome. While we know insurance can play a significant role in selecting the medical professional to perform your procedure, it is still up to you to make the final decision. Many dentists and oral surgeons today accept out of network patients and provide cash-pay discounts or payment plans to make treatment more affordable. While tempting, the medical professional chosen should not be selected on cost alone. Your smile is an important feature and shouldn’t be trusted to just anyone. If you have recently lost a tooth or are missing an entire arch of teeth, dental implants provide an ideal tooth replacement solution. Dental implants are small titanium posts that are surgically inserted into your jawbone. They are designed to integrate with surrounding tissues and support an implant-retained crown, bridge, or denture. Although it’s true a general dentist trained in dental implant placement can perform dental implant surgery, it is often recommended that an oral surgeon familiar with dental implant surgery perform this procedure. Discussed below are four reasons why oral surgeons make a great choice for dental implant surgery. Highest Level of Education General dentists typically spend seven to eight years in earning their degree. Depending on their focus, a general dentist will either receive a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). After undergoing the necessary dental implant training courses and passing their licensing exam, they are cleared to practice. Oral surgeons, however, go on to complete four to six additional years of education after completing dental school. This most often occurs in a hospital-based or surgical setting, allowing them to focus on dental surgical procedures. To receive the highest level of certification, oral surgeons can go on to become board certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. When oral surgeons are board certified it means they follow the highest standard of care and procedures. To maintain this certification, they must participate in ongoing continuing education courses each year. Extensive Training and Experience Oral surgeons focus their time and efforts on surgical procedures, such as wisdom teeth extractions, jawbone correctional surgeries, and dental implant placements. Unless a general dentist’s primary focus is dental implant placement, they spend most of their time performing dental fillings and correcting tooth abnormalities. An oral surgeon is more familiar with the anatomy of the face, neck, mouth, and jawbone and can better treat injuries and diseases in these areas. Your oral surgeon will perform a full evaluation of your jawbone using the latest technologies to adequately place your dental implants. They will also be able to determine if bone loss has occurred and can provide preliminary treatments, such as gum grafting, sinus lift surgery, or bone grafting. Most general dentists will have to outsource these preliminary procedures. The success rate of your implants is strongly dependent on the health of your jawbone and the placement of your implants. Offer Maximum Sedation With a background in surgery, oral surgeons are equipped at delivering the maximum level of sedation with IV or general anesthesia. General dentistry practices are typically only able to offer local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, and in some cases oral conscious medication, such as Valium or Halcion. While together they can numb the area and help you relax, you will not be completely asleep. Oral surgeons can provide stronger sedation and you can have peace of mind knowing their facility is certified in both basic and advanced cardiac life support. Equipped to Handle Unexpected Complications Because oral surgeons are educated in the anatomical nerves and inner workings of the facial structures, such as the sinuses and jaw, they are better equipped at placing dental implants and handling unexpected issues. While dental implant surgery is low risk, as with any surgery, there is always a risk of complications. Oral surgeons generally offer more advanced tools and technologies than general dentists, allowing them the opportunity to immediately and effectively navigate large sinuses or other difficulties, such as bone infections and broken teeth. If you are looking for a board certified oral surgeon in Colleyville, Texas to perform your dental implant surgery, please visit Dr. Chris Tye’s website to learn more about Texas Oral Surgery Specialists in Colleyville, TX.
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