There are many practices out there that will offer you similar services, but it is often difficult to choose which practice to trust with your dental health. In my opinion, the best way to differentiate between them is to ask your doctor the right questions. The following Q & A helps illustrate how our practice differs from the rest.

IS YOUR DENTIST WELL TRAINED?

Giving you back beautiful teeth in one day is not an everyday procedure; it requires years of surgical training. A weekend surgical course here and there won't provide your dentist with enough clinical exposure. Complications such as sinus exposure, nerve injury, and infection may arise during the course of treatment, and if they do, you want your doctor to have the experience to manage these issues.

HOW OFTEN DOES YOUR DENTIST PERFORM THE PROCEDURE YOU NEED?

Like everything else, to perform surgical procedures well, dental surgeons need to perform procedures on a regular basis. This is what we do every day at our oral and facial surgery practice; you won't see us doing dental cleanings, filings, or root canal therapy. Thus, we are excellent at our job.

HOW DOES YOUR SURGEON UTILIZE AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY?

When you are selecting a surgeon, many will show you an array of equipment to which they have access. However, if they don't know how to utilize the equipment at its full potential, it can be distracting. Many high-tech gadgets are not needed for dental surgery and do not necessarily improve patient's outcomes. In our office, we utilize 3D X-rays to not only evaluate the condition of the jaw but also extrapolate the data to fabricate a surgical guide with our 3-D printer. When a computer-generated surgical guide is used in appropriate situations, it improves the patient's outcome and decreases the time required for surgery and recovery. It is practical knowledge about the equipment that makes your surgeon great—choose the person, not the tool!

DOES THE SURGEON HAVE ANY BEFORE AND AFTER SURGERY PICTURES TO SHOW YOU?

A competent surgeon will be willing to show you the results of previous surgeries. These pictures should reflect both the best cases and average results. Your surgeon should be able to provide multiple references to patients that have had similar procedures and are willing to discuss the surgery, recovery, and experience with the practice. We can refer you to a number of satisfied patients.

CAN YOUR DOCTOR SEE YOU QUICKLY WHEN COMPLICATIONS ARISE?

Some offices will hire a traveling oral surgeon to perform surgery. These surgeons will come to the practice once a week or month, and many of them are located far away from the practice. You may meet the surgeon briefly if not at all before the surgery, and your after-surgery care will be delegated to non-surgical dentists or office staff. Ask your surgeon, is this his primary practice? If so, when complications arise, is he readily available to answer your questions and manage your after-surgery care- not next week or month, but NOW!

IS YOUR SURGEON PERSONABLE AND CARING, AND WILL HE OR SHE LISTEN TO WHAT YOU WANT AND BE THERE FOR YOU THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SURGICAL EXPERIENCE?

Although the procedure gives you back your smile instantly, the recovery and overall treatment process can take months. It's important to select a surgeon who is involved in your care from the very first appointment; you want to feel special, not as a number in a long list of patients. In addition to being accessible, your surgeon should be personable and caring. Many surgeons are egoistical because they have more letters after their names which can be intimidating. At our practice, we believe that being down-to-earth helps ease patients’ anxiety and allows them to ask the right questions.