Three types of dental professionals place implants: oral surgeons, periodontists, and prosthodontists. General dentists with additional implant training can also perform the procedure, though they typically handle simpler cases. The type you need depends largely on how complex your situation is.
Oral Surgeons
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons complete 4 to 6 years of residency training beyond dental school, including hospital-based surgical and anesthesia rotations. They’re the most extensively trained in surgical procedures of any dental specialist, covering everything from wisdom tooth extractions to corrective jaw surgery to implant placement. If your case involves significant bone loss, sinus complications, or you need sedation beyond local anesthesia, an oral surgeon is often the go-to choice.
Because their training is so surgery-focused, oral surgeons frequently handle the surgical phase of implants (placing the titanium post into your jawbone) but refer you to another specialist or your general dentist for the final crown, bridge, or denture that goes on top.
Periodontists
Periodontists specialize in the gums and bone that support your teeth. Their residency adds 3 years after dental school, during which they train extensively in implant placement along with bone grafting and tissue regeneration. This makes them a strong fit when gum disease has damaged the bone and soft tissue around your teeth, since they can treat the underlying condition and place the implant.
If you’ve been told you need bone grafting before an implant can be placed, or if periodontal disease is the reason you lost the tooth in the first place, a periodontist brings relevant expertise to both problems at once.
Prosthodontists
Prosthodontists complete 2 to 3 additional years of training focused on restoring and replacing teeth. They’re the specialists in designing the visible part of your implant: the crown, bridge, or denture that attaches to the post. Their implant training covers both placement and the design of complex restorations, so they’re particularly valuable when you’re replacing multiple teeth or need a full-mouth reconstruction.
In many cases, a prosthodontist works alongside an oral surgeon or periodontist. The surgeon places the implant, and once it heals, the prosthodontist designs and fits the restoration. For straightforward single-tooth implants, some prosthodontists handle both phases themselves.
General Dentists With Implant Training
General dentists can legally place implants in most states, and many do. The key difference is training depth. A general dentist’s implant education typically comes from continuing education courses ranging from a few days to several weeks, compared to the years of residency that specialists complete. Some general dentists pursue more rigorous credentials. The American Board of Oral Implantology requires 670 hours of implant-specific continuing education, plus submission of eight completed implant cases spanning a wide range of complexity, from sinus augmentation to full-arch restorations.
A general dentist with significant implant experience can be a perfectly good choice for a straightforward single-tooth implant in a patient with healthy bone and gums. The advantage is convenience: you may be able to get the entire process done in one office rather than coordinating between a surgeon and a restorative dentist.
How Complexity Determines Who You Need
The biggest factor in choosing the right provider is how complicated your case is. A single implant replacing a recently extracted tooth in a healthy jaw is a different procedure from rebuilding an entire arch in someone with severe bone loss. Clinical guidelines from the Royal College of Surgeons outline several situations that call for specialist involvement:
- Significant bone loss or jaw atrophy: Patients who’ve been missing teeth for a long time often lose bone volume, making implant placement more surgically challenging. These cases benefit from an oral surgeon or periodontist who can perform bone grafting.
- Sinus proximity: Upper back teeth sit close to the sinus cavity. When bone in that area is thin, a sinus lift procedure is needed before or during implant placement. Failure rates for implants involving sinus lifts run slightly higher, around 3 to 4%, compared to roughly 2% for standard placements.
- Full-mouth or full-arch restorations: Replacing all teeth with implant-supported dentures or bridges typically involves a team approach, with a surgeon handling placement and a prosthodontist designing the prosthesis.
- Medical complications: Poorly controlled diabetes, bisphosphonate medications (used for osteoporosis), or significant health conditions raise the risk of implant failure and generally warrant specialist care.
- Gum disease: Active periodontal disease needs to be treated before implants go in. A periodontist can manage both.
For complex cases, guidelines recommend a multidisciplinary team rather than any single provider working alone. Your initial consultation often determines which specialists need to be involved.
What to Expect From the Process
Dental implant treatment happens in phases, and different providers may handle different stages. First comes the surgical placement of a titanium post into your jawbone. This is typically done under local anesthesia, though oral surgeons can offer deeper sedation. The post then needs to fuse with the bone, a process called osseointegration that takes roughly 3 to 6 months. Once healed, a second appointment attaches a connector piece, and then a custom crown, bridge, or denture is fabricated and fitted on top.
Overall implant success rates are high. A study of over 158,000 implants found a survival rate of 97.8%. Most failures happen within the first year, when the bone hasn’t successfully fused with the implant. After that initial period, the risk drops significantly. Late failures are less common and tend to be associated with bone quality issues, particularly in older adults.
Choosing the Right Provider
Start by asking about training and volume. How many implants does this provider place per year? What additional training have they completed beyond dental school? For specialists, board certification in their field signals they’ve met rigorous standards. For general dentists, credentials like Diplomate status from the American Board of Oral Implantology indicate substantial implant-specific education and case experience.
Many practices now use computer-guided implant planning, which involves a 3D scan of your jaw to map the exact angle and depth for placement before surgery begins. Robotic-assisted systems are also emerging, offering even greater precision, though they remain expensive and not widely available. These technologies can be used by any qualified provider, so the provider’s experience matters more than the specific equipment in the office.
If you’re unsure where to start, your general dentist can evaluate your situation and refer you to the appropriate specialist. In many cases, the best outcome comes from a team: a surgeon who places the implant and a restorative dentist or prosthodontist who builds the final tooth.