How to Choose an Oral Surgeon

    WASHINGTON, DC, December 02, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Oral and maxillofacial surgery requires a skilled surgeon, and choosing the right surgeon is an important decision. You will be entrusting this individual with both your oral health and your facial appearance. A good oral surgeon is able to demonstrate training and experience, as well as competence, in the procedures offered.

Considering Training and Experience

The most basic element of choosing an oral surgeon is to determine the education, training and experience of the surgeon.

Find out if the oral surgeon is certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. To be board certified, the surgeon has to be a graduate of an accredited dental school, be state-licensed, and have completed an oral and maxillofacial residency in a hospital. Thus, board certification will tell you a great deal about the surgeon's past education.

In addition to basic education and training, you should inquire as to whether the oral surgeon has any experience with cosmetic surgery. Your oral surgeon should be concerned with both the technique of the surgery as well as your facial appearance after surgery. Many oral surgeons also offer cosmetic procedures like facelifts and BOTOX.

What Solutions are Offered?

Qualified oral surgeons offer many types of oral surgery. Your surgeon will treat many conditions other than your own. Although it is important that your oral surgeon has extensive experience with the specific procedure you are seeking, a good oral surgeon can be spotted by the breadth of services.

Experienced oral surgeons offer an array of procedures, including:
- Wisdom teeth extraction
- Dental implants
- Corrective jaw surgery
- Reconstructive jaw surgery
- Facial cosmetic surgery

If an oral surgeon offers many procedures, then there are probably a number of former patients who have posted reviews on the internet. To get a sense of patient satisfaction, try searching for the oral surgeon's name in an online forum. These websites can give you an idea of the surgeon's general reputation.

Questions to Ask your Oral Surgeon

One of your first points of contact between you and a prospective oral surgeon will be during an initial consultation. Prior to the consultation, you should think of some questions that you would like to ask the surgeon to inform your decision.
Some questions you may want to ask include:

- How long have you been in practice? (This will give you an idea of the surgeon's experience).
- How many times have you performed my procedure?
- Do you participate in any ongoing training or education?

A good oral surgeon will gladly answer your questions and address your concerns.

For more information about oral surgery in Washington, D.C., please visit the website of the experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Daria Hamrah at NOVA SurgiCare at http://www.novasurgicare.com.

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