Why Experience Matters

Most patients do not realize that the American Dental Association does not recognize dental implantology as a specialty and does not credential any dentist as a specialist. So, when you see advertising that states your implants will be placed by a specialist or a team of specialist you can be sure their specialty field is in a discipline other than dental implants. Although most dental schools provide some implant training to both pre and post-doctoral students, the amount of training is but a small part of the curriculum and older dentist received no training at all.How then does a patient make a choice? The best starting point is by looking at the experience of the dentist. After all it is now well accepted, based upon studies from institutes such as Florida State Universities Human Performance Lab that all human activities from ballroom dancing to mastering a musical instrument and presumably the practice of dentistry all require ten years of dedicated practice to even approach expert status.At Total Freedom patients can trust that they are truly in the hands of an expert. Our surgeon began placing implants at the beginning of the modern implant era, over 30 years ago. Long before even dental schools were teaching the discipline. Our restorative dentist and lab technician also have over 20 years practicing implant dentistry. Experience matters above all else.

Pt’s should understand that although implants are used to replace teeth, implants are not at all like teeth. Knowledge acquired by dentist working on and with teeth does not always apply to dental implants. As an example most dentists, based upon experience with teeth, will recommend 2 implants to replace 2 adjacent missing teeth. The doctors at Total Freedom long ago determined a better option is to replace 2 adjacent missing teeth with a single implant. Not only does the Total Freedom approach save the patient money but also reduces the risk of problems by about 50%. This is just one of the many ways that experience benefits the patient. Experience matters about all else.

Under the traditional model the dentist refers the patient to a surgeon for placement of a dental implant. The surgeon refers the patient back to the dentist for placement of the artificial tooth. The typical surgeon has never restored a dental implant and the typical dentist has never place a dental implant, so neither one ever becomes an expert in the totality of implant dentistry. Unlike the surgeon at Total Freedom who has both placed and restored dental implants for more than 30 years, it is probably correct to say that no dentist in the Phoenix area both places and restores more implants. Experience matters above all else.

Various clinics are now advertising the service of dental implants. These clinics are often franchise operations, or owned by private corporations or absent dentist. Their ads will emphasize the brand of implants used (although no brand has proven any more successful than another) the use of a “dental cat scan,” (although this technology is common place) and finally the extremely discounted price (although the savvy consumer knows you only get what you pay for). These claims are made for one reason, to distract the potential patient from the most important issue, an issue the clinic may prefer not to address, the experience of the dentist placing your implants.Total Freedom in contrast, was formed by combining two large successful dental and specialty practices with a 30 year history of serving your friends and neighbors right here in Phoenix. You can trust that here at Total Freedom you will be in the hands of an expert. Experience matters above all else.