If you need oral surgery, you might be overwhelmed with the task of finding the right oral surgeon. There are likely many oral surgery centers in your area, so how do you choose the best one? Here are seven things to keep in mind when searching for the right oral surgeon for you.
1. Education and Training
When you’re looking for an oral surgeon, be sure to choose someone who has the proper education and training. Make sure that the professional you choose graduated from an accredited dental school and that they completed another four years or more of surgical training as well as anesthesiology training.
It’s a bonus if you find that the oral surgeon you’re considering is a life-long learner, someone who is dedicated to staying up to date on current trends in the industry and completes plenty of continuing education courses. You should also be sure that your chosen oral surgeon is board certified in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
2. Professional Experience
You’d be hard-pressed in most areas around the country to find a practicing oral surgeon who doesn’t have a good education and the right credentials. But aside from that, you want to find someone that has substantial professional experience. Of course, seeing a newly certified oral surgeon is fine, but before you commit to their surgery center, find out how much experience they have in performing your specific procedure.
You might find that you’re more comfortable with an oral surgeon that has more surgeries under their belt. You can also look into whether they are members of any professional organizations, like the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Memberships in these organizations show that the surgeon is committed to furthering their experience and having a vast network of professional connections.
3. List of Services
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are certified to perform a wide array of procedures, including:
When you’re looking for the right oral surgery center for you, be sure to choose a place that offers the procedure you need and is up to date on the most cutting-edge methods to perform it. You can commonly find a list of services on the provider’s website, and you should always feel comfortable calling the office to ask any additional questions you have.
4. Cost
Depending on what procedure you need, oral surgery can be expensive. Before choosing a surgery center, find out the costs associated with your procedure. If you have dental insurance, ask the office if they accept it and determine whether or not they’re in-network.
If you don’t have dental insurance, it’s essential to determine if payment for your procedure is due in full before your procedure is completed or if the surgery center can accommodate payment plans. An excellent oral surgery center will usually be willing to work with you!.
5. Reputation and Reviews
A great way to start your search for an excellent oral surgery center is to ask your dentist for a recommendation. If you trust your dentist and they’re willing to recommend someone, they are more than likely a great option!
You can also ask family and friends for recommendations or look at reviews online. Keep in mind that when searching for reviews, you’ll most likely come up with some negative ones, and that’s normal. Reading reviews, both good and bad, gives you a good picture of the surgeon you’re considering.
6. Convenience and Schedule
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential oral surgery centers, additional things to consider are convenience and schedule. It’s best if the oral surgeon is located nearby. Especially in an emergency, the closer, the better! You don’t want to have too long of a drive ahead of you after a surgical procedure. You should also be sure that the surgery center hours meet your needs and match your schedule.
7. Comfort Level
Oral surgery can be intimidating, and you want to be as comfortable as possible in the surgery center you choose. Before you make your final decision, meet with the surgeon and their staff to gauge if they’re a right fit personally. Do you feel comfortable in their office? Are they answering all your questions openly? If so, they might be the perfect fit for you!
At DFW Oral Surgeons in Flower Mound, Texas, you can be sure that we check all seven boxes. A dentist is board certified and ready to help you! Our warm and welcoming office staff will make you feel comfortable, and we’ll work with you to find the best payment solution to help meet your needs. Contact us today to learn more.