You just found out you need an oral surgery procedure. Now what?
Oral surgery is very common. In fact, approximately three million people currently have dental implants, and every year that number increases by 500,000. Surgery can be scary and stressful, but finding an experienced oral surgeon you feel comfortable with and trust to do your procedure is an important part of preparing. There are steps you can take to ensure you find the best oral surgeon for, including knowing what an oral surgeon does, what you should look for in an oral surgeon, and how to find the best oral surgeon to perform your procedure. But first things first, you need to understand what an oral surgeon actually does.
What Do Oral Surgeons Do?
Oral surgery is used to treat disorders, diseases, injuries, or other issues in the face and jaw regions. Some common procedures performed by oral surgeons include:
- Realignment of jaws and other jaw problems
- Removal of teeth, including wisdom teeth extraction
- Dental implant surgery
- Treating oral cancer and other mouth diseases
- Oral bone graft procedures
What to Look For in an Oral Surgeon
Finding an oral surgeon you can trust is key to having your procedure go smoothly. Here are a few things to look for when looking into oral surgeons:
- Arrangements to handle emergencies – you should know what kind of assistance you will be provided in case of an emergency or required help outside of office hours.
- Anesthesia – it’s important to understand the type of anesthesia you will be given during the procedure, how it will make you feel, and any side effects you may experience.
- Insurance coverage – check to see if the oral surgery office accepts your insurance, and if not, how much the procedure will cost you.
- Technology and equipment – ask what kind of technology or equipment will be used, if it’s the most up-to-date equipment, why they use that method, and how long they’ve been working with it.
To get ready for your oral surgery, you can schedule a consultation appointment to meet with them and ask them any questions you may have. Finding the best oral surgeon to perform your procedure may take some time, but it’s important to thoroughly research and talk to multiple surgeons before making your final decision.