Oral Surgery Consultation: The First Step

Your first meeting to discuss treatment options with an oral surgeon can be an intimidating prospect. You can ease any anxiety that you have by being prepared for the consultation. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for your consultation so that it can go as smoothly as possible.

• Write down a list of questions that you want to ask the oral surgeon. For example, you may be particularly interested in what to expect from the post-operative recovery process or what type of sedation can be used for your oral surgery. If you bring a list of written questions to the consultation, you’re less likely to forget to ask something important.
• Bring all of the referral information from your dentist. Most patients are referred to a specialist by a general dentist when oral surgery is needed. The dentist should give you a referral slip that specifies the procedure you’re considering, and your dentist may also take x-rays. If so, bring those images with you, as well so that your surgeon doesn’t have to take another set.
• Bring your insurance information (both medical and dental insurance) and a list of your medications and any previous surgeries, as well as your general medical history. Our billing staff will work to maximize any insurance coverage that you have that would apply to your treatment, so it’s important that they have complete information for billing purposes. During the consultation, your surgeon will assess your overall health in addition to your oral health to determine if you have any issues that might disrupt the healing process or take any medications that need to be discontinued for a few days prior to the surgery.

Procedures such as wisdom tooth extraction and dental implant placement can seem scary at first, but a reassuring initial consultation with a specialist can go a long way to calm your nerves. We will work hard to put you at ease and give you all of the information that you need for a successful treatment process. Call us today at Stonebriar Facial & Oral Surgery to schedule your evaluation.