What to Expect from an Oral Surgeon

An oral surgeon is a specialized provider of dental care. His or her job is to help you to restore health to your mouth or to make other changes that improve the look, function or deformity present. Take into consideration seeing these professionals when your dentist recommends it or when you feel you need to make significant changes that your typical dental care provider does not make. It is not always possible to choose the proper when to seed these providers. In some cases, you just need to. Initial Meeting During your initial consultation with the oral surgeon, he or she will perform an exam to find out what is happening within your mouth. In addition, any previous information from your standard dentist is also reviewed. The goal here is to learn what the problem is, what the extent of the problem is and what can be done to improve it. In most situations, these providers will work with you through non-surgical steps whenever possible to make the changes needed. In other words, do not expect to have surgery during that first meeting or at all. When Non-Surgical Options Do Not Work In some situations, surgical procedures are the only way you can improve your overall health and get through the problem. This is when these professionals will offer you options. The invasiveness of the procedure will depend on what needs to be done. In some cases, you will only need a local anesthetic. In other situations, you will need to be under general anesthesia. If you do need to have this type of procedure, the doctor will tell you exactly what to expect prior to having it. Get Your Needs Met Just like hiring a dentist or any other provider of a service to you, it is critical to choose someone you have faith in to do a great job. That often means learning about the provider's experience and training in the type of surgery you need. It also means understanding what your options are and knowing if the provider is listening to any concerns you have. You should be well aware of any risks or potential complications going into this procedure. An oral surgeon can help you to overcome the problems you are dealing with in some situations. To find out if he or she can help you, schedule an initial consultation to talk about your condition. Find out what your options are. Find out what you can do to avoid surgery or if you are dealing with a condition that requires you to take this type of more invasive step. For many, surgery is the best move to make to get to a better level of overall health.