What Is a Dental Implantologist? Titles, Training and Checks
What the implantologist title means in the UK and how to check an implant dentist's credentials.
Checked by our editors. A dentist review of this article is planned but has not happened yet.
What is a dental implantologist? It is an informal title for a dentist who places dental implants. In the UK it is not a specialty recognised by the General Dental Council, so any registered dentist with suitable training may place implants.
That surprises many patients. You might assume “implantologist” works like “orthodontist,” with a protected title and a specialist register behind it. It doesn’t, which means you need to check training and experience in a different way. This guide explains what the title means, which specialists are involved in implant care, and how to check a dentist’s credentials.
Is implantology a recognised dental specialty in the UK?
No. The General Dental Council (GDC) maintains specialist lists of registered dentists whose skills, knowledge and experience have met set conditions. Its specialist lists page includes curricula for Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dental Public Health, Endodontics, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Oral Medicine, Oral Microbiology, Oral Surgery, Orthodontics, Paediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Restorative Dentistry and Special Care Dentistry. Implantology is not among them.
The GDC explains that a dentist can only use the title “specialist” if they are on the relevant list. Words such as “implantologist” or “implant dentist” are not protected in the same way.
Which specialists are involved in implant treatment?
| Who may be involved | On a GDC specialist list? |
|---|---|
| General dentist who places implants | No; can describe themselves as an implant dentist but not as a specialist |
| Oral surgeon | Oral Surgery is a GDC specialist list |
| Periodontist (gum specialist) | Periodontics is a GDC specialist list |
| Prosthodontist | Prosthodontics is a GDC specialist list |
| Restorative dentistry specialist | Restorative Dentistry is a GDC specialist list |
Cleveland Clinic notes that implant placement isn’t exclusive to one field: oral surgeons, periodontists and some general dentists all place implants, and many periodontists place them as part of their work. So the person placing your implant may hold a specialist listing in a related field, or may be a general dentist with additional implant training.
How do you check an implant dentist’s credentials?
- Search the GDC register. The GDC says members of the public can find registered dentists and specialists by searching its online register.
- Check for specialist listing. If someone calls themselves a specialist, the register should confirm which list they are on.
- Ask about implant training. Postgraduate courses and qualifications vary, so ask what training they have completed.
- Ask about experience. How many implants have they placed, and how often do they treat cases like yours?
- Ask who does what. Will the same dentist place the implant and fit the crown, or will you be referred?
Why does the title matter to patients?
Because “implantologist” is not a protected title, two dentists using it may have very different levels of training and experience. The title alone tells you that the dentist offers implants, not how they trained or how many cases they have treated. That is why the checks above matter more than the name on the door. If a clinic describes a dentist as a “specialist,” the GDC register is the place to confirm it; if they describe the dentist as an “implant dentist” or “implantologist,” ask the training and experience questions instead.
What should a good implant consultation cover?
The Oral Health Foundation says the implant dentist will check your mouth and the health and strength of your jawbone, and give you a treatment plan covering each stage and the costs. The FDA suggests asking:
- whether your health and habits, such as smoking, make you suitable
- the benefits and risks for your case
- how long healing will take, and how long the implant might last
- which brand and model of implant will be used, and asking for a record of it
Our article on how to choose an implant dentist in London has more on what to ask, and are Turkish dentists qualified for international patients? covers checking credentials if you are considering treatment abroad.
Sources
- General Dental Council, Specialist lists
- Cleveland Clinic, What Is a Periodontist?
- Oral Health Foundation, Dental implants
- US Food and Drug Administration, Dental Implants: What You Should Know
This article is general information and is not a substitute for advice from your own dentist.
