Our oral health is a crucial part of our overall health. That is why it is so important to take great care of our teeth, gums, and mouth with great oral hygiene. A big part of that is preventive and restorative dental care. In many cases, a general dentist can help you with that. However, sometimes, only an oral surgeon will do. So, we created this article to help you with picking the right oral surgeon for you.
What are Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons?
Oral surgeons are dentists with additional years of specialized training after dental school. They are sometimes also referred to as Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. While they charge more than a general dentist to perform some of the same procedures, it could be worth it. Especially if your case is more difficult or complicated than normal.
The following are a few of the problems that Oral Surgeons can assist with:
- Impacted teeth – This occurs when there is not enough room in the jaw for the teeth to come in properly. A good example of that is wisdom teeth. Most people need problematic wisdom teeth removed before they become a problem. Impacted teeth can lead to damage or destruction to other teeth as well as gum problems.
- TMJ – Temporomandibular joint dysfunction is also known as TMJ. It consists of symptoms that include pain, discomfort, clicking, stiffness and/or locking in the jaw.
- Dental implants – This is by far the best treatment option for replacing missing teeth, if you’re eligible. A dental implant is an artificial root, usually made of titanium. It is made to fuse with your jaw in the place of your missing tooth. With the addition of a dental crown, the dental implant restores full function and appears like a natural tooth.
What to look for in an oral surgeon
Many general dentists will refer you to an oral surgeon they know and trust. However, it isn’t a terrible idea to do some of your own research to find a good one.
Call a few dental offices
This is something you won’t hear very often, but it’s a great way to get a great idea about who is doing great work. The dentist at any office usually decides which oral surgeon to refer to. They have to refer to good oral surgeons because they are putting their reputation at risk. Calling around to a few offices will give you a good idea of who some of the better oral surgeons are in your area.
Make the most of the internet
Google is a great place to start when searching for an oral surgeon. Simply typing in “oral surgeon near me” or “oral surgeon {insert city}” will generate many results. Google uses your location to find results that are near you even if you simply search for “oral surgeons”.
Read the reviews
It’s a good idea to check their Google business profile. There will often be many reviews where you can see their overall rating and read about the experiences that people had at their office. You should be able to find one that has between a 4-5 star rating as well as dozens, if not hundreds of reviews.
Check out their website
Find out which services they offer. Some offices will narrow down what they offer to the exclusion of other services. Look around and see which services they are providing. If you need to, try calling the office and ask the receptionist more about the office.
Ask people you know
There’s a good chance that you have friends, family, co-workers, and other acquaintances in the area who have used the services of an oral surgeon in the area. Ask them who they have been seen by. Find out what their experiences have been like. If you know someone who had a great experience with an oral surgeon in your area and that same oral surgeon has great reviews, it should give you confidence that you are seeing a good one.
Conclusion
Use the methods mentioned above. Cross checking which names are coming up often or near the top will help you make the right choice. There’s usually many oral surgeons to choose from for most people. With all of these resources at our fingertips, you shouldn’t have a hard time picking the right oral surgeon for you.