How to Choose a Surgical Specialist for Dental Implants


If you’re thinking about dental implant surgery in the Cleveland or Akron areas, you have many options. But it’s easy to be mislead by advertisers and information found on the Internet. Although dental implant surgery is performed frequently and has a high success rate, there are risks involved with all surgical procedures, extractions and cosmetic periodontal surgery. Many people assume that these procedures are very simple, when in fact they are not.

For Successful Dental Implant Surgery

The success rate of dental implant surgery can be partly attributed to skilled surgical specialists who have completed residency programs. During any given surgical procedure, patients benefit from their:

  • Knowledge of surgical techniques
  • Ability to diagnose problems
  • Ability prevent or treat complications

There’s a major difference between surgical specialists (Oral surgeons or periodontists, for example) and a physician who has taken an abbreviated course on dental implant surgery. But patients are not always aware of this difference.

The Difference is Comprehensive Training

Because they have completed comprehensive training, surgical specialists have the experience necessary to diagnose and manage complications that can potentially occur in your procedure.

It’s true that some dentists, prosthodontists and endodontists have undergone training in surgical implant placement, and have succeeded in performing operations for their own patients.

But many of them have never encountered problems like dental implant failure and other complications. For surgical specialists, these challenges are routine and they’ve been trained to handle them. Unfortunately, some patients who choose a less-qualified physician experience complications that may have been avoided had they chosen a surgical specialist.

Are You Considering Dental Implants? Make an Informed Decision

Protect your oral health — make an informed decision when considering dental implants or any other surgical procedure. Ask your physician these questions when seeking a procedure.

1. What’s your specialty?

The ADA recognizes only Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons and Periodontists as surgical specialists.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons frequently perform wisdom tooth extraction, orthognathic jaw surgery, dental implants, and even facial reconstruction procedures. Some OMS surgeons also perform aesthetic procedures in facial plastic surgery. After dental school, oral and maxillofacial surgeons undergo a minimum of 4 years of training within a hospital residency program.

Periodontists can treat and diagnose periodontal disease. They are also trained in dental implant placement, bone grafting, cosmetic periodontal surgery and oral inflammation treatment. After dental school, Periodontists undergo three years of specialty education and surgical training.

2. How much experience do you have in dental implant surgery?

A surgical specialist will always share their qualifications and background with you. They have extensive training and experience, and they continually attend educational courses.

Ask about:

  • The number of dental implant cases they have performed and how often.
  • Their continuing education and contributions to scientific literature.
  • Their training in dental implant surgery and treatment of complications
  • Speaking to their patients.
  • How much the staff knows about dental implant surgery (their support is valuable).
  • Photos of successful dental implant procedures they have performed.

Dr. Faisal Quereshy is a facial specialist — a surgeon and educator trained in two specialties to treat patients who want or need aesthetic or functional improvements of the face. He is board certified in Facial Cosmetic Surgery, as well as in Oral and Maxillofacial surgery.

Read more about Cleveland cosmetic surgeon Dr. Faisal Quereshy.

Dr. Najia Usman is an endodontist specialist, having undergone two additional years of advanced specialty training and education in the diagnosis and treatment of difficult dental cases. Dr. Usman specializes in treating the inside of the teeth, with the focus on the pulp and surrounding tissues. Dr. Usman is a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics.

Read more about Cleveland endodontist Dr. Najia Usman.