If you are considering a dental implant, you may be wondering which type of dental specialist should perform the procedure. Two specialists commonly involved in dental implant treatment are periodontists and oral surgeons.
Both receive advanced surgical training and may place dental implants, but their areas of expertise are different. Understanding these differences can help you make an informed decision about who is best suited to your individual needs.
For patients searching for a periodontist in Beverly Hills or an implant dentist in Beverly Hills, the choice often depends on the health of the gums and supporting bone, the complexity of the extraction or implant procedure, and the esthetic requirements of the final result.
What Is a Periodontist?
A periodontist is a dentist who has completed additional specialty training focused on the structures that surround and support the teeth.
These include:
- The gums
- The jawbone supporting the teeth
- The periodontal ligament
- The tissues surrounding dental implants
Periodontists diagnose and treat periodontal disease and perform procedures such as gum grafting, bone grafting, crown lengthening and dental implant placement.
Because the long-term success of an implant depends heavily on healthy bone and gum tissue, periodontal expertise can play an important role throughout implant treatment.
What Is an Oral Surgeon?
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is a dental specialist with advanced surgical training involving the mouth, jaws and facial structures.
Oral surgeons commonly perform procedures including:
- Complex tooth extractions
- Wisdom tooth removal
- Dental implant placement
- Bone grafting
- Treatment of impacted teeth
- Corrective jaw surgery
- Management of certain facial injuries and oral pathology
Their broad surgical training makes oral surgeons particularly valuable when treatment involves complex extractions, jaw surgery or other conditions affecting the oral and facial structures.
Can Both Periodontists and Oral Surgeons Place Dental Implants?
Yes.
Both periodontists and oral surgeons may have extensive experience placing dental implants.
The more useful question is therefore not simply “Which specialty places implants?” but rather:
“Which specialist is best suited to the needs of my particular case?”
A straightforward implant in an area with abundant healthy bone may be very different from an implant being placed where there has been gum recession, periodontal disease, bone loss or significant esthetic concerns.
Why Are the Gums So Important for Dental Implants?
When people think about dental implants, they naturally tend to focus on the implant itself.
However, the appearance and longevity of an implant also depend on the tissues surrounding it.
Healthy bone provides support for the implant, while healthy gum tissue forms a protective seal around it. In visible areas, the thickness and contour of the gum tissue can also have a major effect on how natural the final implant restoration appears.
If the gum tissue is too thin, recedes or is positioned unevenly, the final result may not look as natural as expected.
This is an area in which a periodontist’s specialized training can be particularly valuable.
When Might a Periodontist Be the Right Choice?
There are several situations in which seeing a periodontist in Beverly Hills for dental implant treatment may be particularly beneficial.
You Have Gum Disease
Active periodontal disease should be addressed before implant treatment whenever possible.
Periodontists specialize in diagnosing and treating gum disease and can evaluate whether the tissues surrounding the proposed implant site are healthy enough to support treatment.
Controlling periodontal disease is also important for the long-term health of both natural teeth and dental implants.
You Have Experienced Bone Loss
Bone loss can occur because of periodontal disease, infection, trauma or the loss of a tooth.
If there is insufficient bone for ideal implant placement, bone grafting may be required before or at the time of implant surgery.
Periodontists routinely evaluate and reconstruct the tissues that support teeth and implants.
You Have Thin or Receding Gums
Thin gum tissue or existing gum recession may affect the appearance and stability of the tissues around an implant.
In appropriate cases, gum grafting may be considered before, during or after implant placement to improve the quality or volume of the surrounding tissue.
The Implant Is in a Highly Visible Area
Replacing a front tooth involves more than simply placing an implant into the bone.
The position of the implant and the architecture of the surrounding gum tissue need to work together to create a natural-looking result.
Careful management of the soft tissue is particularly important when an implant is being placed in the esthetic zone.
You Have a History of Periodontal Problems
Patients who have previously lost teeth because of periodontal disease may have an increased risk of developing inflammation around implants.
A periodontal approach allows both the implant and the patient’s overall gum health to be considered as part of one long-term treatment plan.
When Might an Oral Surgeon Be the Right Choice?
An oral surgeon may be especially appropriate when the primary challenge involves complex oral or jaw surgery.
Examples can include:
- Difficult or deeply impacted tooth extractions
- Significant jaw abnormalities
- Major reconstructive procedures
- Facial trauma
- Complex oral pathology
- Cases requiring treatment involving broader maxillofacial structures
There can also be considerable overlap between the procedures performed by oral surgeons and periodontists.
What About a General Dentist Who Places Implants?
Some general dentists also undertake additional training in implant dentistry and may have considerable experience placing implants.
There is no separate recognized dental specialty called an “implant dentist.” When patients search for an implant dentist in Beverly Hills, they may encounter general dentists as well as specialists who provide implant treatment.
Rather than relying on a title alone, patients should consider the practitioner’s training, experience and approach to their particular case.
Important questions include:
- How frequently does the dentist perform implant surgery?
- Does the case involve bone or gum tissue deficiencies?
- Who will perform any necessary grafting?
- How will the implant position be planned?
- Who will monitor the health of the tissues around the implant?
- How are surgical and restorative treatment coordinated?
Who Actually Makes the Implant Tooth?
Dental implant treatment often involves more than one dental professional.
The surgical specialist places the implant into the jawbone and manages the surrounding bone and gum tissue.
Once the implant has integrated successfully, a restorative dentist or prosthodontist typically designs and places the implant crown, bridge or other final restoration.
Communication between the surgical and restorative clinicians is extremely important.
The implant needs to be placed in a position that not only provides good surgical stability but also allows the restorative dentist to create a functional and natural-looking tooth.
Does Specialist Choice Matter More for Front Teeth?
It can.
Front-tooth implants are among the most demanding implant cases because even small differences in gum position, tissue thickness or implant angulation may be noticeable.
The implant needs to be positioned with the final restoration in mind from the beginning.
A detailed assessment may consider:
- The amount of available bone
- Thickness of the facial bone
- Gum thickness
- Existing gum recession
- The patient’s smile line
- Position of neighboring teeth
- Shape and level of the surrounding gums
- Whether bone or gum grafting may be required
In these situations, the management of the tissues surrounding the implant becomes an especially important part of treatment.
What If You Need a Tooth Extraction First?
Ideally, implant planning should begin before the tooth is extracted.
Depending on the condition of the tooth and surrounding tissues, it may be possible to place an implant immediately after extraction. In other situations, bone grafting or socket preservation may be recommended and implant placement performed later.
Planning ahead allows the specialist to consider how best to preserve the bone and gum tissue needed for the future implant.
Is Dental Implant Surgery Painful?
Implant placement is typically performed under local anesthesia, and additional sedation options may be appropriate depending on the procedure and the patient’s needs.
Some swelling, tenderness or bruising can occur following surgery. The extent of the recovery varies depending on whether treatment involved a single straightforward implant or additional procedures such as extraction or bone grafting.
Your specialist should provide detailed post-operative instructions and explain what to expect during healing.
What Determines the Long-Term Success of a Dental Implant?
Successful implant treatment involves much more than the initial surgery.
Long-term results depend on factors including:
- Appropriate implant positioning
- Adequate bone support
- Healthy gum tissue
- Good oral hygiene
- Control of periodontal disease
- Appropriate bite forces
- Regular professional maintenance
- Avoidance of smoking and other significant risk factors
Dental implants cannot develop cavities, but the tissues surrounding them can develop inflammation and bone loss.
Regular monitoring therefore remains important even after implant treatment has been completed.
Choosing a Periodontist or Implant Dentist in Beverly Hills
There is no universal rule that every dental implant should be placed by one particular type of specialist.
Both periodontists and oral surgeons can provide excellent implant treatment. The appropriate choice depends on the patient’s needs and the complexity of the case.
For patients with periodontal disease, gum recession, thin gum tissue, bone loss or significant esthetic concerns, the specialized training of a periodontist can be particularly relevant.
Dr. Bradley Lander provides periodontal and implant care in Beverly Hills with an emphasis on the health of the bone and gum tissues that support dental implants.
Treatment planning considers not only successful implant placement, but also the long-term stability, function and appearance of the surrounding tissues.
Final Thoughts
When choosing who should place your dental implant, the practitioner’s experience and the specific requirements of your case matter more than simply choosing between two professional titles.
An oral surgeon may be particularly appropriate for cases involving complex extractions or broader jaw and facial surgery, while a periodontist’s specialized expertise in gum tissue, bone and periodontal health can be especially valuable when these structures are central to successful implant treatment.
If you are looking for a periodontist in Beverly Hills or researching an experienced implant dentist in Beverly Hills, a comprehensive consultation can determine the condition of your bone and gums and identify the treatment approach most appropriate for your needs.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Bradley Lander to discuss your dental implant options and develop a personalized treatment plan.