Because the Right Implant Dentist Matters Just as Much as the Right Implant
Dr. Piper Dankworth on what determines whether a general dentist can place implants. General dentists can place implants, but it requires additional training beyond dental school unless the school includes implant training. Dr. Dankworth gained her implant expertise through both dental school and post-graduate education, including an implant fellowship. Implant dentistry has two distinct phases: the surgical placement of the implant, and the restorative phase of attaching the tooth or prosthetic. Patients seeking second opinions or corrections for previous implant work are common at the practice, which is why training and judgment matter as much as the implant itself.
The honest answer to the question in the title is: technically, yes. Any licensed dentist can place a dental implant. The more useful answer is that not every dentist should, and the difference between a dentist who has trained extensively in implants and one who has placed a few comes through in the result.
At La Costa Dental Excellence in Carlsbad, the implant work is led by Dr. Piper Dankworth, who completed an implant fellowship and has continued her training at the California Implant Institute, the Kois Center, the Wellness Dentistry Network, and DOCS Education. She is candid that this training matters because of what she sees walk through the door from elsewhere: patients seeking second opinions, patients seeking corrections, patients who chose price over training and now want a different outcome.
The Two Phases of Implant Dentistry
An implant procedure is really two procedures combined into one journey. The first is surgical: a titanium post is placed into the jawbone in a position that will support the final tooth above it. The second is restorative: once the post has integrated with the bone, a custom crown or prosthetic is attached on top, designed to match your bite and look like a natural tooth.
Both phases require judgment. The surgical phase requires planning the position so the implant can be loaded correctly long term. The restorative phase requires the design and craft of building a tooth that fits the rest of your mouth. A dentist who has trained deeply in implants will think about both phases at once, even during the planning. A dentist who has not will sometimes treat the two as separate problems, and the result is what Dr. Dankworth sees in second-opinion appointments.
Why Training Matters More Than the Title on the Door
Implants are most often placed by periodontists, oral surgeons, or general dentists who have completed substantial post-graduate training. Dr. Dankworth puts the training point this way: “Some dental schools will train you while you’re in dental school. If your dental school doesn’t train you, then typically general dentists will take more training outside of school once you graduate.” That additional training is what separates a general dentist who can place an implant occasionally from one who has built genuine clinical depth.
The credential to look for is not just the degree on the wall. It is the continuing education, the fellowship work, and the clinical mileage in implant placement and restoration. That is the lens we would use if we were choosing an implant dentist for ourselves.
When Patients Come to Us for a Second Opinion
One of the most common appointment types we see is the second-opinion implant consultation. Sometimes the patient was told their case is straightforward when it is not. Sometimes they were quoted for an implant in a position that would not hold up. Sometimes they had work done elsewhere and now need it corrected.
Dr. Dankworth is direct about one specific pattern: “We have people that have done the ditch and go to another country for dentistry and now have to have it redone.” The savings on the original procedure rarely cover the cost of correction, and the time investment is usually months longer. We mention this not to scare anyone, but to be clear that the implant decision is one where shortcuts cost more than they save.
A Patient’s Experience, Shared With Permission
With permission to share, one of our patients put their experience this way:
“I came here unsure and worried about my previous implants, but the attention to detail and care exceeded my expectations.”
The reason that observation lands is that the second-opinion conversation is a different kind of appointment than the standard implant consultation. The patient is usually anxious. They have already invested money in something that may not be working. The job of the visit is to look at what is actually there, explain what we see, and lay out a path that is honest about what is fixable, what is not, and what will be involved either way.
Why La Costa Dental Excellence Is the Right Practice for Your Implant
La Costa Dental Excellence is a family-led practice. Dr. Stephen Dankworth, DDS, and Dr. Kimberly Corrigan-Dankworth, DDS, are the co-founders, both trained at the University of the Pacific. Dr. Kimberly has practiced since 1984. Dr. Piper Dankworth, DDS, brings the implant-specific training this conversation centers on, with advanced credentials at the California Implant Institute, the Kois Center, the Wellness Dentistry Network, and DOCS Education, plus 300+ hours of advanced continuing education.
What that means in practical terms is that the implant work happens in a setting where multiple sets of clinical eyes have considered cases like yours. The training behind the procedure is not optional. It is the standard.
Schedule Your Implant Consultation or Second Opinion
Whether you are considering implants for the first time or you want a second look at work that has already been done, the right next step is a consultation. We will look at your case, explain what we see, and walk you through your options. You will leave the conversation with a clearer answer than you came in with.
Call us at (760) 633-3033 or visit La Costa Dental Excellence at 7730 Rancho Santa Fe Rd #106, Carlsbad, CA. We are here when you are ready to talk through your implant options.
About Dr. Piper Dankworth
Dr. Piper Dankworth, DDS, practices restorative and implant dentistry alongside Dr. Stephen Dankworth and Dr. Kimberly Corrigan-Dankworth at La Costa Dental Excellence in Carlsbad. She graduated from the University of Utah School of Dentistry, where she was recognized for her work in oral surgery, implantology, and patient-centered treatment planning. Her advanced training includes an implant fellowship plus the Kois Center, the California Implant Institute, the Wellness Dentistry Network, and DOCS Education, with over 300 hours of post-graduate continuing education in implant placement, restoration, and the connection between oral and whole-body health.
