Injury to your mouth, teeth, or oral cavity could lead to an oro-dental trauma. About 20% of people worldwide suffer from oro-dental trauma at some point in their lives. As a result, these patients could require a dental implant or tooth replacement.
If these situations sound familiar, consider choosing a surgical dentist in Knoxville, TX. An experienced professional can assess your needs to recommend the right procedure. Then, you can improve your smile for stunning results.
Not sure how to vet your options for dentists? Read on to discover how to choose a surgical dentist today!
Review Their Training
General dentists can’t handle many of the procedures surgical dentists complete on a daily basis. With that in mind, it’s important to find dentists who have the proper credentials. Before choosing a surgical dentist, look into their education and training.
First, confirm they’ve graduated from an accredited dental school. You can visit the dentist’s website or Healthgrades.com listing to review their credentials. Confirm that they’ve completed at least six years of surgical and anesthesia training, too.
The best surgical dentists know education and training are ongoing processes. Determine if any of the dentists on your list still attend learning programs or seminars.
Dentists who continue their training over time remain updated regarding the latest treatments, techniques, and technologies. These professionals will have an easier time offering high-quality care.
You’ll feel confident in their abilities to complete even the most complex dental procedure properly.
Determine Their Level of Experience
The number of oral surgeons could increase by 8% between 2020 and 2030. Make sure the dentist you choose isn’t new to the industry.
As you review your options for dentists, make sure each professional has years of surgical dentistry experience. Determine how long each dentist has put their training and education to use. If you can, try to find professionals who have worked in the industry for over five years.
An experienced surgical dentist has likely led a range of surgeries within that time. They’ll know the best course of action to take based on your needs. These dentists will leverage their previous experience to ensure you receive proper care.
Make sure the dentist’s experience is relevant to your situation, too. Ask how many dental situations like yours they’ve handled over the years.
Then, ask about the procedure they recommended for those patients. Did the patients experience any complications? If so, ask the dentist how they handled the situation.
Check Their Services
Once you find a few dentists with years of hands-on surgical dentistry experience, look into their practice. Consider what services they offer. Make sure the services they provide align with your situation and needs.
For example, you might require different forms of oral surgery, including:
- Wisdom tooth removal
- Apicoectomy
- Alveoloplasty
- Palatal and lingual tori excision
- Expose and bond impacted tooth
- Tooth extraction
Perhaps you need dental implants instead. Determine what options are available, such as all-on-four dental implants, sinus lifts, or soft tissue grafting.
Maybe you suffered a trauma and need reconstruction. Perhaps your child requires cleft lip and palate surgery instead.
Try to find a surgical dentist who offers a range of services. Regardless of the situation, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you can count on them for help.
Ask the dentist if they specialize in one type of surgery, too.
Otherwise, consider how often they perform the procedure you need. If they haven’t performed it in some time, keep searching. You’ll have peace of mind choosing a dentist who has recent experience relevant to your needs.
The Process
Once you find a dentist who offers the procedure you need, learn more about the process.
For example, determine what pain control options the practice offers. At Knoxville Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, we offer EXPAREL; an opioid-free pain relief medication that offers 72 hours of pain relief. It can help minimize pain, discomfort, and swelling during wisdom teeth extractions and other procedures.
Ask the dentist how they’ll ensure your health and safety during the procedure, too. Otherwise, ask about pre- and post-operative care.
If the dentist struggles to answer your questions about the procedure, keep searching.
Make sure you’re choosing a dentist who can provide safe, effective, and even virtually painless procedures. Choose a facility that can offer on-site surgery at the highest standard of care.
Compare Costs
Before choosing a surgical dentist, ask about the expenses involved in your procedure. Try to request an estimate from more than one dentist in the area. Determine what’s included within the estimate as well.
Calling more than one surgical dentist will allow you to start comparing dental fees. You can gauge the average cost for your procedure to make an informed choice. If someone’s pricing is too good to be true, question why that is.
For example, there’s a chance the dentist is inexperienced or desperate to take on patients.
Determine if the dentist accepts your medical or dental insurance, too.
If not, ask if the practice offers financing options.
Consider Their Reputation
You can further narrow down your options by reading online reviews. Reading reviews can help you find the best surgical dentists in Knoxville. You’ll have peace of mind choosing a professional that others have trusted in the past.
You can find reviews on the dentist’s website, Google Business listing, Healthgrades.com, and BBB profile.
If you find one or two negative comments, that’s normal. If you find an abundance of negative patient reviews, however, remove that dentist from your list.
Schedule a Consultation
Schedule a consultation appointment with one of the dentists on your list to discuss your surgical needs. When you arrive at the clinic, look around. Is it clean and organized?
Consider the staff, too. If they’re unprofessional, rude, or scrambling, visit a different clinic instead.
Pay attention to how the dentist speaks and treats you as well. After your appointment, consider your comfort. Then, review your notes to make an informed decision before scheduling your procedure.
Start Choosing a Surgical Dentist for Your Procedure Today
Choosing a surgical dentist before your procedure is easier than you might think. Use these tips to streamline your search. Then, review your notes to choose a reliable, experienced dentist you can depend on.
With their help, you can improve the appearance of your smile in no time.
Eager to schedule your procedure? We can’t wait to see you.
Schedule your one-on-one consultation today to get started.