Choosing an oral surgeon is not as difficult as it may seem. When one is needed right away for treatment of pain or infection, just look in the phone book or look one up online. www.DentalPlans.com has an effective dentist search tool that can narrow the search by specialty and area. More often, the general dentist will refer their patient to an oral surgeon that they know and trust.
When calling the office, have both medical and discount dental plan information available. Ask if they are providers for both. Ask if they will need a referral from the primary care physician.
Oral surgeons are dentists who receive extra training, a residency, after dental school. Oral surgery residencies usually last for three years. Residents treat complex emergency cases, such as trauma from accidents and gun shot wounds. They learn special surgical techniques to diagnose unusual lesions (sores) including biopsy - removal of all or part of a lesion for diagnosis by an oral pathologist. Dental implant placement has become an integral part of their training. Oral surgery residents learn anesthesia and sedation techniques, invaluable during complex and mundane surgical procedures. Of course, oral surgeons become expert in the removal of teeth, especially impacted wisdom teeth. All dentists who advertise that they are oral surgeons have successfully completed such a residency.
At the oral surgeon's office, look around. Is the office organized? Are the staff friendly and helpful? There will be several pages of forms to fill out while waiting. Expect a health history form, a HIPAA form (the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act), and a form outlining office policies. Other forms may ask for permission to bill insurance and to take and use photographs. The staff should be happy to explain all aspects of every form.
Once inside the treatment area, look for signs that the office is clean and the equipment is sterile and disinfected. Metal instruments will be in sterile packs or bags, and plastic pieces will be disposable. It is acceptable to ask the doctor and the assistant about this. If you do not appreciate their answers or their demeanor, it is alright to ask to leave at this point.
The surgeon should examine the patient, read the x-ray films (except for soft tissue biopsies), formulate a diagnosis and an action plan. Now, the dentist will explain the situation and the proposed treatment to the patient; this is informed consent. The surgeon should allow the patient to ask questions and answer them.
Sources:
www.ada.org
www.aaoms.org
www.massdental.org
Author: Dr. David Leader
© 2008 Associated Content