Top 5 Questions to Ask Your Implant Dentist - I-Rise Dental, CA
Top 5 Questions to Ask Your Implant Dentist
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DENTAL IMPLANTS ARE EXPENSIVE! READ THIS IF YOU WANT THE TRUTH

Top 5 mistakes people make when getting dental implants. Read and learn how to save time, money & energy!

Is the dental practitioner asking you the right pre-screening questions?

One of the important considerations for an implant-placing dentist is to take into account the patient’s overall health and not just place implants. It is really important that the dentist asks for a thorough medical history. For example, if someone has diabetes or osteoporosis then the practitioner needs to take extra steps to make sure that a thorough lab workup is done and/or necessary medical clearances are obtained, before planning the placement of implants. It is also important that, depending on the patient, the practitioner also gives adequate time for healing (based on the patient’s overall health) to make sure the implant can integrate successfully with the bone. In fact it is not a bad idea to look into a dentist who uses a holistic approach, as this ensures that the whole body is taken into consideration while doing an invasive procedure like dental implants. It is important to remember that the implant is a foreign object screwed into the bone, and you are asking the body to integrate with this foreign “invader” and accept it; so it is possible that it is sometimes too much for the body to ask. So a good implant-placing dentist would be pretty selective on all the patients accepted for implants as he or she is taking all these factors into account.

What is the doctor’s training and experience in implant dentistry?

It is important to find out what kind of formal training the implant-placing dentist has received, and how long it took for the dentist to get this training. Also it is important to know what kind of continuing education the doctor is receiving in order to be up-to-date with the latest science in implantology. These are very important questions to ask!

For example, Dr. Mohan at I-Rise Dental has gone to multiple courses under board-certified surgeons to not only learn how to place implants by devoting hundreds of hours but has also spent a considerable amount of time learning every possible complication there is and also passing rigorous clinical exams in order to gain the necessary confidence and ease to place these implants.

Does the implant placing doctor have a 3D (Cone Beam) CT Scan machine (also known as CBCT)?

A 3D Cone Beam Imaging machine is a game-changing x-ray scanning technology that enables your dentist to easily and clearly see your teeth’s roots, soft tissues, bone structure and even nerve pathways. By creating a three-dimensional image of your oral cavity, this technology is able to provide your dentist with a clear, detailed view of these structures (jaw bone thickness, location of sinuses, etc.) at any angle. Many patients may not be aware of the importance of using this technology for accurate, successful implant placement.

There is a notable difference between traditional x-rays and a 3D CT scan. An x-ray is a two-dimensional projection of a 3D anatomical structure. So even though a traditional x-ray can give a good layout of the tooth root and bone structure, it still leaves room for error based on the implant-placing dentist’s interpretation of these x-ray images. A CBCT scan significantly reduces this margin of error while placing implants, as now the dentist has a tool by which they can get a complete three-dimensional map of the bone/tooth/sinus/nerve structures which would make a world of difference in planning your case. Can you imagine getting an implant and it touches your nerve or pierces your sinuses?

So bottom line: do not go to a dentist who does not have the latest CBCT technology. At I-Rise Dental we use the Planmeca (https://www.planmeca.com/imaging/3d-imaging/key-benefits/) CBCT machine which even has the state-of-the-art “low-radiation” option along with state-of-the-art image rendering abilities.

Will the dentist be placing the implant and crown in the same office?

In many dental offices, the implant is placed in the bone by one dentist, and the crown that goes on top of the implant is placed by another. There’s nothing wrong with this approach as long as the two doctors can collaborate closely. The modern demands of a dental office places a significant demand on these dentists to devote the extra additional time needed to communicate clearly between them. In many cases, it is possible you end up going to one office to place the implant and another office to receive the crown. Poor communication could result in a weird-looking crown where the esthetics of the end results are totally different than what the patient expected (this is after waiting months after starting the process).

Again, as you can see, this is a very important question to ask before you dive into getting your implants placed. A hole is drilled into the jawbone to place the implant, and we let the body heal for several months before screwing the crown onto it ourselves. So if you cannot guarantee that the end results will meet your expectations, why even bother starting this whole process? Instead save your time, energy and money!

At I-Rise Dental, Dr. Mohan specializes in both placing implants and designing and placing the final prosthesis (crowns/bridges/dentures) on top of these. Since it is one person (Dr. Mohan) doing the whole process, it significantly reduces margin of error and increases the chance of getting perfect looking and functioning teeth to go on top of the implants.

Should I save money by going to another country to get my implants done?

One of the most important questions to ask after implant surgery is, “How accessible is the dentist after the surgery?” Why is this important? While most surgeries go well, there is still a small possibility that something unexpected may pop up after the surgery. For example, the dentist might have done everything by the book, but say for some reason a stitch comes loose after a week. You are now paranoid that the implant might get infected and fail. In that instance can you call the dentist and meet on short notice? Does the dentist prioritize your situation over everything else on his/her plate? This is one of the biggest concerns of patients who tell us about going to Mexico or some other country to get implants done. What if something were to go south after they did the procedure in these countries and go back to the United States? They are going to have serious logistical issues. At I-Rise Dental Dr. Mohan personally takes the time to answer patients’ minutest concerns, and patients with a big procedure like implants would definitely get the whale’s share of her attention. We pride ourselves in treating the patient as a whole, and Dr. Mohan cannot stop herself from treating every patient as her own dad (who got implants from her and loves the end result).

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Dr. Anu Mohan, I-Rise Dental, CA

Dr. Anu Mohan earned her DDS from the USC in 2014 and was on the Dean’s list.

She enjoys all aspects of dentistry, including implants, crowns, bridges, clear aligners, and cosmetic and special-needs dentistry. She provides modern treatments to her patients in a safe, comfortable, and relaxed environment and adopts a holistic approach to suit every patient’s age and unique needs. She loves building long-lasting relationships with her patients.

Dr. Mohan has been featured in numerous journals and received the TOP General, Family, Implant and Cosmetic Dentist Award from Women in Medicine in 2021.

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