How to Start Placing Dental Implants in Your Practice

Adding implants is not just about buying equipment or learning surgery, it is about building the confidence, workflow, team support, and case-selection skills to keep more treatment in-house. 

In this episode, T-Bone and Meredith explain how general dentists can start with predictable cases, use a restorative-driven digital workflow, and grow from one implant a month to consistent weekly cases.

Main Topics

• Why implants are a capability opportunity, not just a new procedure or equipment purchase.
• The essential tools to get started: CBCT access, scanner, implant motor, implant system, and training.
• Restorative-driven treatment planning and the value of a guided digital workflow.
• Case selection, mentorship, team involvement, and the economics of keeping implant cases in-house.

In This Episode

• Why dentists who refer every missing-tooth case out are giving away patients, revenue, and long-term opportunity.
• How to choose an implant system based on support, predictability, and fit for general dentistry—not simply price.
• Why the final restoration should dictate the three-dimensional position of the implant.
• How to build capability through diagnosis, planning, surgery, restoration, and post-case review.
• Why mentors, labs, implant reps, and a dentist community are critical before, during, and after training.
• How to choose safe, straightforward “green-light” cases for the first 10 to 20 implants.
• What a starter investment may include, and why a modest number of cases can justify the cost.
• How to identify implant demand already inside the practice by tracking missing teeth and outgoing referrals.

Timestamps

00:00 – Why dentists should stop giving implant cases away

02:30 – The tools and training needed to get started

05:16 – Equipment does not equal implant capability

06:58 – Restorative planning: the tooth drives implant placement

08:08 – Workflow, mentorship, labs, reps, and community support

10:44 – Who is ready to start placing implants?

18:49 – Choosing the right first five to 10 cases

24:34 – Startup investment, costs, and implant ROI

30:13 – Growing from one implant per month to one per week

Resources & Links

3D Dentists: https://www.3d-dentists.com/

Join the free 3D Dentists community: https://pro.3ddentists.com/

Connect with T-Bone

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tbonespeaks/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tbonespeaks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbonespeaks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tbonespeaks/reels/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tbonespeaks

The Bottom Line

Implant dentistry is not an all-or-nothing leap. Start with straightforward cases, plan restoratively, use a repeatable guided workflow, and lean on mentors and your team as you build confidence. The goal is not to do every case, it is to consistently deliver the right cases well, then grow from there.