How to Choose an Implant Dentist You Can Trust on Long Island
Search for an implant dentist in Melville, and you’ll get a page of ads, chain implant centers, and offices miles away that all claim to be the best. Those listings rarely tell you what actually matters: who places the implant, what training they have, and whether the office can handle complications like bone loss without sending you somewhere else.
That decision matters. A dental implant is a titanium post that fuses with your jawbone and is meant to last for decades. Planned and placed well, it functions like a natural tooth. Planned poorly, it can lead to failed integration, gum problems, or a second surgery.
At Implant & General Dentistry of Long Island, Dr. Dean Glasser has been placing implants since completing formal training at the Misch Implant Institute in 1995. He is a Fellow and Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI), a professor at Columbia University’s dental school, and an attending at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. To talk through your options, call 631-423-6767 or learn more about dental implants in Melville.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Implant Dentist in Melville
1. What Implant-Specific Training Do You Have?
Dental school covers implants only briefly, so post-graduate training is what separates dentists who place implants occasionally from those who focus on them. Ask where the dentist trained and whether they hold credentials from an implant organization. Dr. Glasser trained at the Misch Implant Institute, and ICOI Diplomate status requires extensive continuing education, documented implant cases, and an examination before peers. Our post on what it means that Dr. Glasser is an ICOI Fellow and Diplomate explains these credentials in detail.
2. Who Will Do the Surgery, and Who Will Make the Final Tooth?
Many patients see one office for surgery and another for the crown. That can work, but it adds appointments and leaves room for miscommunication about bite and tooth position. Ask whether the same dentist plans the final tooth and places the implant. At our office, all procedures are done in-house, so the person placing the implant is planning for the finished restoration from the first visit.
3. What Imaging Do You Use to Plan the Implant?
A standard 2D X-ray can’t show bone width or the exact position of nerves and sinuses. Cone beam CT (CBCT) imaging produces a 3D view that lets the dentist measure available bone and plan the implant’s angle and depth. Ask whether the office takes CBCT scans on site and how those scans guide the surgery.
4. Do You Use Guided Implant Surgery?
Guided surgery uses the 3D plan to direct the drill during placement. Dr. Glasser uses the X-Guide dynamic 3D navigation system, which tracks the drill in real time against the planned position, much like GPS. This can mean smaller incisions and more predictable placement, especially near nerves or the sinus.
5. What Happens if I Don’t Have Enough Bone?
Bone shrinks after a tooth is lost, so many patients need grafting before or during implant placement. Some offices refer this out, which adds another provider and another round of visits. Ask whether the dentist performs bone grafting and sinus lifts themselves. We do both in our office. If you’ve been told you aren’t a candidate, our article on getting dental implants with low bone density covers the options.
6. What Sedation Options are Available?
Implant surgery is usually done with local anesthesia, but many patients prefer some level of sedation, especially when several implants are placed at once. Ask what’s offered and who is certified to provide it. Dr. Glasser is certified by the New York State Department of Health to administer enteral sedation and inhalation agents. Our sedation dentistry page explains what each option feels like.
7. Can I See Cases Similar to Mine?
Before-and-after photos of single implants, multiple implants, and full-arch cases show you a dentist’s actual work. Ask to see cases that match your situation rather than a highlight reel. Our smile gallery includes implant and cosmetic cases completed in our office.
8. What are All of My Tooth Replacement Options?
A good implant dentist explains the alternatives, including bridges, dentures, and full-arch solutions like All-on-4 dental implants, along with the trade-offs of each. If every conversation ends at the most expensive option, that’s worth noticing. Our comparison of All-on-4 vs. traditional implants is a helpful starting point.
Comparing Your Options: Implant Centers, Specialists, and Implant-Trained General Dentists
Most people researching implants on Long Island end up choosing between three types of providers. Each has strengths, and each has questions worth asking.
Implant Center Chains
These centers advertise heavily and often focus on full-arch treatment, so their surgeons may perform a high volume of one procedure. On the other hand, you may not know who your surgeon is until the day of surgery, and follow-up care often happens with a different provider. Ask who will treat you at every stage.
Oral Surgeons and Periodontists
These specialists complete formal residencies in surgery or in gum and bone tissue, which makes them a strong choice for complex surgical cases. They typically place the implant and then send you back to a general or restorative dentist for the crown. That means two offices, two sets of appointments, and coordination between them.
Implant-Trained General Dentists
A general dentist with advanced implant training can plan, place, and restore the implant in one office, then maintain it at your regular checkups. The catch is that implant training among general dentists varies widely. Credentials like ICOI Diplomate status matter more here than with any other group, so verify them.
The right choice depends on your case. Some situations do call for a specialist, and a responsible dentist will tell you when that’s true.
Red Flags to Watch for When Shopping for Dental Implants
A firm price quoted before anyone has taken a 3D scan or examined your mouth.- No clear answer about who will actually place the implant.
- Pressure to sign the same day, often tied to a limited-time discount.
- Bone loss that’s dismissed or never discussed, especially if a tooth has been missing for years.
- No plan for how the implant will be cleaned and checked after it’s placed.
- Credentials that can’t be verified through the organization that issued them.
- Only one treatment option presented, with no alternatives.
A firm price quoted before anyone has taken a 3D scan or examined your mouth.What a Good Implant Consultation Looks Like
Your first visit should feel like an evaluation, not a sales pitch. At our office, it starts with a review of your dental and medical history, since smoking, diabetes, and certain medications can affect healing. We take a cone beam CT scan so Dr. Glasser can see your bone in three dimensions, and 3D facial scanning can help plan how your new teeth will look with your face and smile.
Then Dr. Glasser walks you through what he sees: how much bone you have, whether grafting is needed, how many implants make sense, and what the timeline looks like. You leave with a clear plan, an honest look at your alternatives, and time to think it over.
Schedule a Consultation With an Implant Dentist in Melville, NY
If you’re comparing implant dentists in Melville or anywhere on Long Island, we’d welcome the chance to answer your questions in person. Dr. Glasser has practiced dentistry since 1985 and brings his teaching and research experience at Columbia to every implant case he plans. To schedule a consultation with the best implant dentist in Melville, NY, for your needs, call 631-423-6767. We look forward to meeting you.
