Choosing a surgeon
Why see a periodontist for dental implants
A periodontist is a dental specialist who completes three additional years of full-time surgical residency after dental school, focused entirely on the gums, the bone, and dental implants. Placing an implant is only part of the job: judging whether the bone and tissue can support one for decades, rebuilding the site when they cannot, and treating it if the implant later develops infection are all within the specialty's training. General dentists can place implants legally, and many do it well, but the specialty exists for the cases where the foundation is the hard part.
This is written by a specialty practice, so read it accordingly. The honest summary: simple cases in good bone do well in many hands. Complex, revision, and full-arch cases are where training shows.
What the extra training covers
Three years of surgical residency
Accredited, full-time, after the DDS. Periodontics is one of the recognised dental specialties, and both of our doctors trained at NYU and are board certified by the American Academy of Periodontology's certifying board.
Bone and soft tissue reconstruction
Sinus lifts, ridge augmentation, and connective tissue grafting are core residency procedures, not weekend-course additions.
Treating implants that are failing
Peri-implantitis management, revision, and removal. If a practice cannot treat the complication, that matters when choosing who places the implant.
Diagnosing the whole mouth first
Untreated periodontitis is a known risk factor for implant failure. Specialists are trained to treat the disease before adding hardware.
When a specialist referral genuinely matters
Your own dentist is often the right person to start with. These are the situations where a specialist opinion changes the outcome:
You were told there is not enough bone
This usually means grafting or a sinus lift, which is squarely specialty work.
An implant is loose, sore, or bleeding
Bone loss around an implant needs diagnosis and staged treatment, and it does not resolve by watching it.
Full-arch or multiple implants
Implant position, angulation, and bridge design determine whether the arch is cleansable in ten years.
You have active gum disease
The disease is treated first. Placing implants into an actively infected mouth stacks the odds against them.
A front tooth is involved
Aesthetics in the front depends on tissue thickness and bone contour more than on the implant itself.
A previous implant already failed
Revision requires knowing why it failed, which is a diagnostic problem before it is a surgical one.
How specialist and general care fit together
Our practice is referral-based and deliberately narrow. We treat the gums, the bone, and the implant surgery, then return you to your own dentist for the crown, the fillings, and your routine cleanings, with a written summary of exactly what was done.
You do not have to change dentists to see a periodontist, and you do not need a referral to be seen. Most of our patients arrive on a dentist's recommendation, and some arrive on their own for a second opinion.
What we will tell you honestly
Sometimes the right answer is that your own dentist should do the treatment, that the tooth can be saved rather than replaced, or that the plan you were quoted is more than you need. We say that regularly, and it is the reason dentists and other specialists send us their second opinions.
Questions patients ask
Common questions
- What is a periodontist?
- A dentist who has completed three additional years of accredited surgical residency in periodontics, the specialty covering gums, supporting bone, and dental implants.
- Are your doctors board certified?
- Yes. Dr. Zidile and Dr. Choi are both board certified by the American Academy of Periodontology's certifying board, and both completed specialty residencies at NYU.
- Can a general dentist place implants?
- Yes, legally, and many place straightforward implants well. The differences show up in grafting, full-arch planning, front-tooth aesthetics, and managing complications.
- Do I need a referral to see a periodontist?
- No. Most patients come on a dentist's referral, but you can book directly, including for a second opinion.
- Will I have to leave my current dentist?
- No. We handle the surgical care and send your dentist a written summary, and you continue routine and restorative care with them.
- Is it more expensive to see a specialist?
- Specialist fees can be higher for the same procedure code. The comparison worth making is against the cost of revising a case that did not hold, which is a large share of what we treat.
- What is the difference between a periodontist and an oral surgeon?
- Both place implants. Periodontists focus on gums, supporting bone, and peri-implant tissue. Oral surgeons cover a broader surgical scope including wisdom teeth and jaw surgery, which we refer out.
- Do you take my insurance?
- We file electronically with your plan as a courtesy, and our insurance team handles the documentation and predeterminations. You get a written estimate before treatment, and CareCredit is available.
Related
Want a specialist to look at your plan?
Bring the plan, the x-rays, or nothing at all. We will examine, measure, and tell you what we would do and what we would not.