Dr. Steven Paul MD, DDS, is a highly-qualified and experienced Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon with more than 20 years of experience in the dental industry. Dr. Paul is extremely well-trained in surgically resolving oral deformities and those of facial structures around the oral cavity like the jaw, neck, and head.
Dr. Steven Paul also provides dental services for correcting TMJ disorders, impacted wisdom teeth, bone or tooth loss, dental implants, oral cancer, and sleep apnea.
With a little preparation in searching and asking probing questions, you can certainly find a suitable oral surgeon. All you need to do is go about it methodically. Be it finding a specialist to treat your broken jaw or extract wisdom teeth; you can find the right doctor for your needs.
You can also take the help of your family, friends, regular dentist, and dental insurance company to narrow down your search. Here’s a step-by-step guide to finding the right oral surgeon.
Speak To Your Dentist
At the outset, meet or contact your regular dentist who recommended surgery in the first place. The dentist will probably make a recommendation, and if the doctor recommends an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, he’s suggesting someone who can treat injuries and disease around your mouth.
Following a recommendation, clarify some basics:
- What are the specialties of the dentist?
- Why go to this surgeon?
- What’s the background of the surgeon?
- Reasons behind the recommendation of the surgeon?
Sort Out Insurance
Patients can seek doctors who are in their insurer’s network after getting in touch with them or visiting their web site. The majority of insurance companies list doctors based on specialty and have information about their offices.
Create a list, see if you can get any recommendations from people or doctors you know and plan your decision. You can go for out-of-network doctors, though they are generally cost more.
Go Online
The US has over 9,000 oral surgeons! If your family or friends or your regular dentist is unable to recommend an oral surgeon make full use of the web.
Once you go online, your search will reveal many sites that rate surgeons and their dental practices. However, you must carefully read patient reviews. Patients should match what they want with the profile and reputation of the doctor and clinic. Some patients prefer a business-like environment and approach during treatment, and others want an oral surgeon with a good bedside manner.
You can further fine-tune your search after going through the background of the doctors, their experience, education, professional affiliations, and board certification. Patients can also reach out to state medical boards for detailed information.
Match Dental Specialist With Your Need
See a specialist who is experienced in the type of surgery you require. For example, jaw alignment surgery, also called orthognathic surgery, is different than dental implant surgery.
Websites dedicated to such information can aid you in searching for doctors who specialize in a particular procedure. If a specialty or specialties are not listed and a website simply states “oral surgery,” or something general – undertake another search.
A hospital’s site that lists doctors who work in it or dental clinics that state their specialist team on their website is another way to find specialists. Such sources also mention brief biographies, qualifications, training, and awards given to the dentists.
Get A Sense For Your New Doctor
Seek a preliminary appointment, meet and interact with the prospective surgeon, and ask questions such as:
- Is the surgery really required?
- What sort of experience do you have in the surgery?
- Can you share some success stories and the times you have failed?
What Will Be The Place of Surgery?
It’s vital to know where your surgery will take place. The doctor’s clinic or hospital should be reputed, accredited, and have significant experience in handling surgeries of the kind you require.
If you are unable to find this information while browsing online, ask the dental office. Also, inquire about the dental clinic’s staff and how it cares for patients.
Finding the most suitable oral surgeon requires effort. However, with some preparation, you can search and choose the doctor successfully.
