Dental Marketing and Practice Management

Implant Dentistry Is Becoming More and More Popular

In this poll, we finally asked a question many of you have requested we cover in one of our surveys: Do you place your own dental implants?

The general dentists in our poll were split on the issue. Fifty-three percent of the general dentists in our poll responded, “Yes, I place my own implants.” The remaining 47% replied, “No, I refer patients to a specialist.”

Not surprisingly, specialists had a very different profile than general dentists. Four out of five specialists in our poll place dental implants. Those who do not place implants are endodontists, prosthodontists, and pediatric dentists.

Here are some of our dentists’ comments:

• “Every general dentist who can extract a tooth can do most implant surgeries. I feel that Oral Surgeons really do not want you to know how easy it is. All dentists owe it to themselves and to their patients.”
• “I have neither the experience nor the knowledge of anatomy that would allow me to feel comfortable placing implants.”
• “I pick and choose. Those patients who need a more complex treatment are referred to our in-house oral surgeon or periodontists.”
• “I’m taking a course in implantology, so soon I will offer them myself.”
• “I use mini-implants in office where and when I’m able. I refer out traditional implants.”
• “Like they say: if you try to be a jack of all trades, you will be a master of none. I am fortunate to have one of the best implant specialists in the entire country in my backyard. I never have to worry about improper or sloppy placement like I get from other ‘professionals.’”
• Post your own comments below!

Read the full dental implant survey results.;

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