Dental Implant Team
Growing in popularity over the years, dental implants are a great solution for replacing missing teeth. Statistics show a nearly 50% increase in the number of dental implants placed by dentists between 1995 and 1999. With older Americans, who are more likely to need teeth replacement, making up a large portion of the population, the number of patients seeking dental implants is expected to continue rising.
With the opportunity for the field of implant dentistry to expect continued growth, dental professionals should expect their volume of cases to increase. With higher caseloads, the risk of details being overlooked increases. Because of this, continuous communication between the clinicians involved is of vital importance. This article will examine the various members of the team involved in a dental implant surgical procedure.
Success Relies on a Team Approach
Several different dental professionals are involved in the procedure for surgically placing dental implants. The entire team is comprised of a dental assistant, lab technician, dental hygienist, administrative staff, restorative dentist (general or specialist), surgeon (general or specialist), and if required, an endodontist and orthodontist. To optimize the chances of a successful treatment, communication between all team members throughout the duration of the process is critical. Read on to learn more about the select team members and their role in a dental implant procedure.
Surgeon
The role of the oral surgeon is to surgically place the dental implants in the patient’s jawbone. These professionals not only perform diagnostic functions but also undergo extensive training specific to implant dentistry. In cases where a general dentist performs implant surgery, they are often the restorative dentist as well.
Restorative Dentist
The role of a restorative dentist (general or specialist) is to serve as the team coordinator and is vital to the overall success of a dental implant procedure. The restorative dentist will also thoroughly evaluate the specifics of the patient’s case to ensure they are a suitable candidate for implant surgery.
Along with acting as the team coordinator, the restorative dentist will also have responsibility for:
- Evaluation of surgical considerations involved with placing the implant
- Routing the patient to applicable implant team members
- Coordination of the surgery and restoration treatment plans
- Creating a comprehensive plan of action for the prosthesis
Dental Hygienist
The dental hygienist is responsible for patient selection, maintenance assessments, and providing patients with instructions for oral hygiene routines. Upon completion of the surgery, the dental hygienist may take over the role of team coordinator.
It is important for the dental hygienist and surgeon to continuously communicate throughout the procedure and the hygienist can benefit greatly by bolstering their general knowledge of dental implants. In situations where the hygienist has not observed an implant surgery previously, it is strongly recommended they make arrangements to do so with a surgeon as it provides valuable experience necessary to better understand and discuss the procedure. Completing continuing education courses on dental implant maintenance and reading articles in dental journals, can help ensure the dental hygienist is current on the latest products, trends, techniques, and technology.
Patient Selection
Given an aging population, many of whom are missing teeth, the number of potential dental implant patients is plentiful. Since they build relationships with patients, and the dentist, over the years, dental hygienists are in an ideal position to discuss dental implant options. With a strong knowledge of the patient’s medical history and psychological profile, dental hygienists are able to make informed recommendations of the various treatment options available.
In addition, the hygienist should be knowledgeable regarding which patients may not be ideal candidates for dental implants. Included in this list would be patients with underlying health conditions, periodontal disease, smokers, or those that are either unwilling or unable to maintain proper oral hygiene and post-surgery instructions.
Once a person has been identified as an implant candidate, the hygienist will educate the patient on the procedure and incorporate information on the implant into hygiene visits.
Maintenance Assessments
Upon completion of an implant procedure, the hygienist will conduct ongoing assessments during subsequent appointments. Amongst the protocols that should be followed are:
Determining how often maintenance visits are necessary.
Discussing any discomfort or sensitivity the patient is experiencing in their implant(s).
Performing clinical evaluations to check implant mobility, check for any suppuration or bleeding of marginal tissue, evaluate adjacent tissue, and plaque control.
Oral Hygiene Maintenance
Once the implants are fully seated, the maintenance stage starts. The hygienist will discuss oral hygiene with the patient as well as the intervals for maintenance visits. Information will also be provided to the patient on how to best clean and maintain their implants.