That list on your fridge of family doctors, pharmacies, eye doctors and dentists? You probably don’t have an oral surgeon on it; after all, most of us only have an oral surgery once, maybe twice in our lifetime. So when you’re looking for one, it might be hard to know where to start. What makes one oral and maxillofacial surgeon better than another? Are there different specialties within the field?
The first place to start your search is with asking your family dentist. But don’t just take their word for it; learn a bit yourself about oral surgery practices so you can conduct your search with confidence. Any oral surgeon in good standing with his or her national and state boards and associations has the ability to meet your needs. If he or she has been in business for several years, and has good ratings, you can feel safe going to them. But what separates a great oral surgeon from an ordinary one?
The Quality of Service at the Oral Surgeon’s Practice
At Wilmington Oral Surgery, we believe service is important. From the first time you call until you have completely recovered from your procedure, we strive to offer you the best service possible.
That includes maintaining a clean and inviting office, making sure you feel comfortable at all times, and treating you with respect, compassion and kindness. It also includes employing a staff whose values fall in line with that and who are standouts in their own right.
Some oral surgeons think, just because they have gone through over a decade of schooling and graduated at or near the top of their dental school class, they are superior to their patients and staff. They forget there is more to their work than clinical ability. A big part of the job, in Dr. Scott Puckett’s opinion, is making the process as pleasant as it can be for all involved.
State of the Art Technology for Oral Surgery Procedures
The field of oral surgery is continually changing and evolving. Many of the latest advancements are related to patient care and comfort. The best maxillofacial surgeons utilize the latest technologies.
For example, Dr. Puckett uses a Waterlase laser for both bone/teeth (hard tissue) as well as gums (soft tissue). This is a dental laser that we use in place of a drill. Often, you don’t need to use anesthetic for many routine dental procedures.
Another cool way Dr. Puckett facilitates holistic tooth replacement is with dentin dental bone grafting, where we create a bone graft, in-house, in minutes, from recycled extracted teeth. It’s natural, safe and sustainable.
A Great Oral Surgeon has Great Communication
Communication is another critical part of being a great oral surgeon. Patients have every right to ask as many questions as they wish, and to get satisfactory answers. You may want to know the background, experience and specialties of the oral or maxillofacial surgeon you’re considering. Other questions patients should ask include:
- What new tools and technologies do you use?
- Why is the surgery necessary?
- May I see samples of your work (before and after photos)?
- Do you take my insurance?
- Do you offer financing options?
- Can you accommodate my special needs?
- Is the surgeon on-call for emergencies?
- What makes you the best surgeon for this procedure?
- Can you provide references?
We are glad to answer any questions you may have. We also pride ourselves on clear communication with your oral surgeon both before and after the surgery.
To schedule an appointment, please call us at (937) 382-8020 or submit the online appointment request form. We look forward to serving your needs with compassionate excellence.
