Re: What to look for in an oral surgeon

[Guest guest]

Board Certified is one of your top concerns, you should also ask

your orthodontist and dentist who they reccomand or work with.

Something that is VERY important to me, especially as a young

person, is communication. The whole team from the dentist to the

oral surgeon MUST communitcate not only with me but amongst

themselves. I already went through one orthadontist TWICE who pretty

much ruined things to the point that my front three teeth will have

to be removed thanks to his " treatment " a huge part of his failing

was him not communicating with the surgeon. Also, years of

expiernce doesn't always equal better. my childhood dentist had been

preacticing in the area for years--he just recently retired----he

missed so many crucial things that were pretty easy to spot. He is

considered a good dentist because he has been in practice so long

but I wouldn't reccomand him for any slightly complicated cases just

based on the advise he gave and what he missed. The

dentist/reconstructive surgeon I have now hasn't been in practice as

long but is established nationally and the best in this area of the

country.

Anyway, especially with surgeons they should explain everything to

you, make sure you understand it, and be able to awnser your

questions, show you what they will be doing, and use plain english

to explain the medical terms they use. I went to a peridontist for

a gum transplant and if I have to have more gum work I will not be

going back, I was 16 or 17 at the time so my mom was going along

with me to all the pre-op appoitments and he would not explain

things to me, would explain how to brush my teeth to my mom, would

not look me in the eyes, did not tell me how the surgery was going

to be done etc. Then I was told that in the anasthia would be

something that would make me forget everything that happened during

the surgery, well I can still remeber seeing tissue pass over my

eyes and can remeber feeling pain and seeing the needle and thread

as they were stichting---they hadn't given me enough. Then I was

allergic to the anasthia so later that night I was vomitting, my mom

tried paging him several times and we didn't get called back untill

much later like 9-10PM because had been out to dinner with his wife

and turned his pager off. He only does surgery once a week---that

once a week isn't the time be turning off your pager no matter where

you are. Anyway so because of those things thats why I wouldn't go

back to him for anything!

Here is the website for the AAOMS andI am sure you can find what

being board certified actually meants. http://www.aaoms.org/

>

> I'm at a crossroads and am considering braces/oral surgery

> treatment. My question is, what is the best qualification to look

> for in an oral surgeon. I already have my orthodontist picked

out,

> but how do I decide on an oral surgeon? Also, what exactly

> does " board certified " mean? Any suggestions will help. Thanks.

>

> -nathan

[Guest guest]

Board Certified is one of your top concerns, you should also ask

your orthodontist and dentist who they reccomand or work with.

Something that is VERY important to me, especially as a young

person, is communication. The whole team from the dentist to the

oral surgeon MUST communitcate not only with me but amongst

themselves. I already went through one orthadontist TWICE who pretty

much ruined things to the point that my front three teeth will have

to be removed thanks to his " treatment " a huge part of his failing

was him not communicating with the surgeon. Also, years of

expiernce doesn't always equal better. my childhood dentist had been

preacticing in the area for years--he just recently retired----he

missed so many crucial things that were pretty easy to spot. He is

considered a good dentist because he has been in practice so long

but I wouldn't reccomand him for any slightly complicated cases just

based on the advise he gave and what he missed. The

dentist/reconstructive surgeon I have now hasn't been in practice as

long but is established nationally and the best in this area of the

country.

Anyway, especially with surgeons they should explain everything to

you, make sure you understand it, and be able to awnser your

questions, show you what they will be doing, and use plain english

to explain the medical terms they use. I went to a peridontist for

a gum transplant and if I have to have more gum work I will not be

going back, I was 16 or 17 at the time so my mom was going along

with me to all the pre-op appoitments and he would not explain

things to me, would explain how to brush my teeth to my mom, would

not look me in the eyes, did not tell me how the surgery was going

to be done etc. Then I was told that in the anasthia would be

something that would make me forget everything that happened during

the surgery, well I can still remeber seeing tissue pass over my

eyes and can remeber feeling pain and seeing the needle and thread

as they were stichting---they hadn't given me enough. Then I was

allergic to the anasthia so later that night I was vomitting, my mom

tried paging him several times and we didn't get called back untill

much later like 9-10PM because had been out to dinner with his wife

and turned his pager off. He only does surgery once a week---that

once a week isn't the time be turning off your pager no matter where

you are. Anyway so because of those things thats why I wouldn't go

back to him for anything!

Here is the website for the AAOMS andI am sure you can find what

being board certified actually meants. http://www.aaoms.org/

>

> I'm at a crossroads and am considering braces/oral surgery

> treatment. My question is, what is the best qualification to look

> for in an oral surgeon. I already have my orthodontist picked

out,

> but how do I decide on an oral surgeon? Also, what exactly

> does " board certified " mean? Any suggestions will help. Thanks.

>

> -nathan

[Guest guest]

here is the site for the board of certification as well

http://www.aboms.org/

> >

> > I'm at a crossroads and am considering braces/oral surgery

> > treatment. My question is, what is the best qualification to

look

> > for in an oral surgeon. I already have my orthodontist picked

> out,

> > but how do I decide on an oral surgeon? Also, what exactly

> > does " board certified " mean? Any suggestions will help. Thanks.

> >

> > -nathan

[Guest guest]

here is the site for the board of certification as well

http://www.aboms.org/

> >

> > I'm at a crossroads and am considering braces/oral surgery

> > treatment. My question is, what is the best qualification to

look

> > for in an oral surgeon. I already have my orthodontist picked

> out,

> > but how do I decide on an oral surgeon? Also, what exactly

> > does " board certified " mean? Any suggestions will help. Thanks.

> >

> > -nathan

[Guest guest]

What I did was to go to the man my ortho suggested. They've worked

together for years, and for me it was a good decision.

Why not start by asking the ortho who he recommends? You can also ask

your friends -- while they may not have had this surgery, they've

probably had some experience with wisdom tooth removal or other

procedures.

Good luck to you,

Cammie

>

> I'm at a crossroads and am considering braces/oral surgery

> treatment. My question is, what is the best qualification to look

> for in an oral surgeon. I already have my orthodontist picked out,

> but how do I decide on an oral surgeon? Also, what exactly

> does " board certified " mean? Any suggestions will help. Thanks.

>

> -nathan

[Guest guest]

What I did was to go to the man my ortho suggested. They've worked

together for years, and for me it was a good decision.

Why not start by asking the ortho who he recommends? You can also ask

your friends -- while they may not have had this surgery, they've

probably had some experience with wisdom tooth removal or other

procedures.

Good luck to you,

Cammie

>

> I'm at a crossroads and am considering braces/oral surgery

> treatment. My question is, what is the best qualification to look

> for in an oral surgeon. I already have my orthodontist picked out,

> but how do I decide on an oral surgeon? Also, what exactly

> does " board certified " mean? Any suggestions will help. Thanks.

>

> -nathan

[Guest guest]

Lets see if I can help you here. I started looking into this with

one orthodontist and surgeon and now I am starting the physical

process with another orthodontist and another surgeon. I am soo

happy I found these new people before I started this thing. My first

ortho was never in his office, was a really busy teen/child ortho,

and didnt communicate well with my mom or with my surgeon. We werent

getting anywhere. (and later found out that he didnt align my molds

right...and thats what they base surgery off of..makes ya wonder)

Then my surgeon was a really nice man and knowledgeable, but he

doesnt do these surgeries all the time anymore so he was making an

exception for me. He said he wouldnt do them during winter break,

spring break, summer or any other busy times for him. He is too

greedy to give up his office hours for a hospital surgery. That made

us wonder when the last time he did one of these was. So we decided

to keep looking... I mean this is a major major surgery and all...

So we went to this orthodontist my dentist recommended and they

seemed pretty good. Then we asked them what surgeon they recommended

under our insurance. They told us the name of a guy. We went to see

him and felt totally comfortable the minute we started talking to

him. He's got a bunch of certificates all over the place. Hes been

practicing for 10-15 years, but he is a young doctor. Which I like

because he gets along better with me (I am 18) and he is not sick of

what he is doing yet. By that i mean that he is energetic about what

he does, its not an old day after day procedure yet. This surgeon

goes into the hospital every tuesday to do surgeries. He told me

about one girl that is just like me that just started with this

whole procedure also. I left the appointment smiling and excited to

get this procedure on the road! And we asked him what orthodontist

he recommended. He said my person that i just went to was good (the

one that referred me to him) but he said the absolute best was this

other guy. He said that he should have been a surgeon instead of an

ortho he was so good. So I went to see him. And he was really

knowledgeable and made me feel comfortable too. And he brought up

points none of the other orthos had ever told me about before so

that was good.

Sorry this was sooo long but hopefully it helped you. I knew the

minute I met these two people that I would do the surgery with them.

Dont be afraid to get multiple opinions..all these people make

plenty of money, dont feel bad about not giving them the business.

If you arent 100% comfortable right away...go check with other

people. This is going to change the rest of your life.

For me..I will be getting braces on in 3-4 weeks and having

upper/lower/genio for an over/open bite in summer of 2005. good

luck! ~~

>

> >

> > I'm at a crossroads and am considering braces/oral surgery

> > treatment. My question is, what is the best qualification to

look

> > for in an oral surgeon. I already have my orthodontist picked

out,

> > but how do I decide on an oral surgeon? Also, what exactly

> > does " board certified " mean? Any suggestions will help. Thanks.

> >

> > -nathan

[Guest guest]

Lets see if I can help you here. I started looking into this with

one orthodontist and surgeon and now I am starting the physical

process with another orthodontist and another surgeon. I am soo

happy I found these new people before I started this thing. My first

ortho was never in his office, was a really busy teen/child ortho,

and didnt communicate well with my mom or with my surgeon. We werent

getting anywhere. (and later found out that he didnt align my molds

right...and thats what they base surgery off of..makes ya wonder)

Then my surgeon was a really nice man and knowledgeable, but he

doesnt do these surgeries all the time anymore so he was making an

exception for me. He said he wouldnt do them during winter break,

spring break, summer or any other busy times for him. He is too

greedy to give up his office hours for a hospital surgery. That made

us wonder when the last time he did one of these was. So we decided

to keep looking... I mean this is a major major surgery and all...

So we went to this orthodontist my dentist recommended and they

seemed pretty good. Then we asked them what surgeon they recommended

under our insurance. They told us the name of a guy. We went to see

him and felt totally comfortable the minute we started talking to

him. He's got a bunch of certificates all over the place. Hes been

practicing for 10-15 years, but he is a young doctor. Which I like

because he gets along better with me (I am 18) and he is not sick of

what he is doing yet. By that i mean that he is energetic about what

he does, its not an old day after day procedure yet. This surgeon

goes into the hospital every tuesday to do surgeries. He told me

about one girl that is just like me that just started with this

whole procedure also. I left the appointment smiling and excited to

get this procedure on the road! And we asked him what orthodontist

he recommended. He said my person that i just went to was good (the

one that referred me to him) but he said the absolute best was this

other guy. He said that he should have been a surgeon instead of an

ortho he was so good. So I went to see him. And he was really

knowledgeable and made me feel comfortable too. And he brought up

points none of the other orthos had ever told me about before so

that was good.

Sorry this was sooo long but hopefully it helped you. I knew the

minute I met these two people that I would do the surgery with them.

Dont be afraid to get multiple opinions..all these people make

plenty of money, dont feel bad about not giving them the business.

If you arent 100% comfortable right away...go check with other

people. This is going to change the rest of your life.

For me..I will be getting braces on in 3-4 weeks and having

upper/lower/genio for an over/open bite in summer of 2005. good

luck! ~~

>

> >

> > I'm at a crossroads and am considering braces/oral surgery

> > treatment. My question is, what is the best qualification to

look

> > for in an oral surgeon. I already have my orthodontist picked

out,

> > but how do I decide on an oral surgeon? Also, what exactly

> > does " board certified " mean? Any suggestions will help. Thanks.

> >

> > -nathan

[Guest guest]

My oral surgeon was referred to me by my orthodontist. One thing

you need to look at is who is covered under you insurance and then

go from there.

My orthodontist originally recommended an Oral Surgeon that was not

in my network for insurance, so I gave my Orthodontist a list of the

OS' that were in my network and he gave me 2 choices that he said I

could not go wrong with either OS and I chose from there.

> >

> > I'm at a crossroads and am considering braces/oral surgery

> > treatment. My question is, what is the best qualification to

look

> > for in an oral surgeon. I already have my orthodontist picked

> out,

> > but how do I decide on an oral surgeon? Also, what exactly

> > does " board certified " mean? Any suggestions will help. Thanks.

> >

> > -nathan

[Guest guest]

My oral surgeon was referred to me by my orthodontist. One thing

you need to look at is who is covered under you insurance and then

go from there.

My orthodontist originally recommended an Oral Surgeon that was not

in my network for insurance, so I gave my Orthodontist a list of the

OS' that were in my network and he gave me 2 choices that he said I

could not go wrong with either OS and I chose from there.

> >

> > I'm at a crossroads and am considering braces/oral surgery

> > treatment. My question is, what is the best qualification to

look

> > for in an oral surgeon. I already have my orthodontist picked

> out,

> > but how do I decide on an oral surgeon? Also, what exactly

> > does " board certified " mean? Any suggestions will help. Thanks.

> >

> > -nathan