The role of the general dental practitioner in the care of the implant patient.

Introducing dental implants into a patient's oral health plan requires a collaborative effort between all members of the care team, including the "implant dentist" and referring general dental practitioner (GDP), should the treatment be carried out in a referral practice. This article aims to discuss the pivotal role referring general dental practitioners (GDPs) play in preparing patients for dental implant placement, whatever the setting for the planned treatment. An overview of the patient referral process is outlined, as is the role of GDPs in the ongoing maintenance of the dental implants and the patient's oral health. Furthermore, this article may be viewed as a road map for GDPs who refer patients to an "implant dentist" as part of their treatment plan.