Periodontist vs. Oral Surgeon: Who Should Place Your Dental Implants?

Successful dental implants rely on more than just surgical placement, they depend on healthy gums and bone to support them for years to come. Periodontists and oral surgeons both place implants, but their training emphasizes different aspects of care. Knowing how their expertise compares can help you choose the specialist best suited for your needs.

What Is a Periodontist?

A periodontist is a dental specialist who focuses on the health of your gums, jawbone, and the supporting structures that keep your teeth stable. Because dental implants rely on these tissues for long-term success, this foundation is everything. Without healthy gums and bone, even the highest-quality implant cannot remain secure. Periodontists are uniquely qualified to prepare, strengthen, and protect this foundation, ensuring that your investment in dental implants is built to last.

Periodontist expertise includes:

• Extensive specialty training in gum and bone biology beyond dental school, giving periodontists unmatched insight into the very structures implants depend on.
• Advanced surgical skills in bone grafting, gum grafting, and tissue regeneration, all of which create the stable foundation needed for lasting implant success.
• A treatment philosophy focused on longevity, with careful planning that promotes durable results, natural esthetics, and seamless integration into your smile.
• Comprehensive ongoing care to protect implants long term, including monitoring gum and bone health to prevent complications before they start.

What Is an Oral Surgeon?

An oral surgeon is a dental specialist trained to perform surgical procedures involving the teeth, jaws, and face. Their work often includes wisdom tooth extractions, corrective jaw surgery, and treatment of facial injuries. Oral surgeons can also place dental implants, though their training is generally broader and not specifically focused on the gum and bone health that supports long-term implant success.

Oral Surgeon Expertise includes:

• Facial trauma repair, including injuries to the jaw or surrounding structures.
• Corrective jaw surgery to improve alignment or function.
• Complex extractions, such as impacted wisdom teeth.

Oral Surgeon vs Periodontist in Placing Dental Implants

While both oral surgeons and periodontists are qualified to place dental implants, their areas of specialty differ. Oral surgeons are trained to manage a wide range of surgical conditions involving the face and jaws. Periodontists devote their specialty training to the supporting structures of the teeth including the gums and jawbone. Because dental implants rely directly on these tissues for long-term stability, periodontists are uniquely positioned to evaluate, prepare, and maintain the foundation that determines implant success.

The Advantages of Choosing a Periodontist for Dental Implants

Dental implants are successful when they are placed into strong bone and supported by healthy gums. This is the core focus of a periodontist’s specialty. Their advanced training is not limited to implant placement but also includes rebuilding and maintaining the foundation that allows implants to remain secure and functional for decades.

• Expert evaluation of your gum and bone health before surgery. Periodontists are experts in treating gum disease and bone loss, two of the most common reasons patients lose teeth in the first place.
• Predictable outcomes: Their training emphasizes techniques that create a stable, esthetic foundation for implants.
• Advanced regenerative techniques: Periodontists can rebuild lost bone and tissue to strengthen the foundation and improve implant success rates.
• Comprehensive care: Beyond placing the implant, periodontists ensure ongoing maintenance and disease prevention, protecting your investment for decades.

For most patients, this specialized focus makes periodontists the ideal choice for implant placement.

Dental Implant Expertise at Southern California Periodontics and Implantology

At Southern California Periodontics and Implantology, implant dentistry is guided by double board-certified periodontist Dr. Tina Beck. With advanced training in both periodontology and implantology, our team prioritizes the long-term health of your gums and bone while delivering implant results that are secure, functional, and natural-looking. From initial planning and bone regeneration to surgical placement and maintenance, every step is performed with precision and compassion. Contact Southern California Periodontics and Implantology today to schedule your implant consultation.