Choosing the Right Oral Surgeon

The people of in our area enjoy a wealth of choices in their daily lives. But some choices are not easy. Take medical care providers for example. If you rarely need a service, you can be caught off guard when a real need arises and you have to scramble to choose the best fit for your situation. Oral surgery falls into that category. Choosing a local oral surgeon requires researching a specific set of criteria.

Experienced Oral Surgeons Are Rare

If you haven’t noticed, our area has seen a boom in medical clinic openings of all kinds in recent years. Not surprisingly, the quality of the care you receive can vary greatly. And while a medical professional’s experience isn’t the only factor you should consider, it is a good indicator of competency. Ideally, you should look for at least 15 years of experience with a track record of satisfied clients that are willing to vouch for the quality of the care they received. Better still, an oral surgeon who keeps learning and using the latest proven technology shows that they aren’t resting on their laurels. You might be surprised at how few oral surgeons actually meet that standard.

Accreditations Matter

Look for oral surgeons who have long-standing affiliations with nationally recognized trade and accreditation organizations. There are some groups that lean toward oral surgery professionals. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons has been in existence since 1918 and has other related organizations like the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons which have the mission of advancing the industry. Other organizations with strong standing in the field include the American Board of Oral Implantology, the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and the International Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. Look for local recognition as well.

Giving Back to Our Area

Ask yourself, “Does this doctor live in and care about the community?” Often this is a strong differentiating factor. Giving to charities, organizing pledge drives and the like shows a commitment to the local community, an involvement that shows intention and action. This is a very good thing. Doing these things on top of running a top clinic is not something that is done by accident. A doctor and organization that engages strongly with community shows that they are not afraid to be in the public eye.

Choose An Oral Surgeon Who Actually Lives Here

It is not uncommon for oral surgeons to perform procedures at multiple clinics in communities that are somewhat distant from the community where they actually live. A true local oral surgeon will naturally feel a link to the community that an out-of-towner won’t. A local doctor will be aware of community-specific economic and cultural knowledge that is impossible to get otherwise. How much more comfortable would you be with an oral surgeon that really knows your community, goes to the same stores and restaurants where you go, and whose kids might go to school and play on the same teams as your kids?