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Choosing an Excellent Dental Surgeon

Choosing a dental surgeon is the most important decisions you'll make after deciding to undergo treatment. Surgical procedures are not "one size fits all" solutions and having the right surgeon can mean the difference between a successful or failed treatment. Aside from listening to your own intuition about the dental surgeon you are considering, you will also want to consider the following three qualities.

Level of Care
You have to be completely comfortable with your surgeon so that you can proceed with your procedure with confidence. You should have the opportunity to have a face-to-face meeting with the surgeon, have the opportunity to express your concerns, and then have the procedure explained to you thoroughly. Most importantly, you should never proceed with a surgical procedure until you have all of your questions answered.

A surgeon who rushes in and out of the room during a consultation conveys a different message about patient care than the surgeon who spends time talking to the patient about his or her condition and concerns. After meeting with a prospective dental surgeon you should feel that the surgeon ultimately has your best interest at heart.

Ask yourself this question. How can quality patient care be given if the dental surgeon is not sincerely interested in you and your overall goals?

Qualifications
There are two very different ways dentists learn advanced surgical procedures:

1) Two to four years of post-graduate surgical training in periodontology and implantology, or oral surgery; or

2) a weekend course.

Who would you rather have on your side?

Post-graduate training is much more extensive than a weekend course and this not only gives dental surgeons the experience and expertise they'll need to prevent common mistakes, but it also helps them perform surgical procedures with a higher degree of efficiency. If complications arise, would you rather have an experienced and educated dental surgeon or someone who has limited surgical training.

A skillful surgeon who is dedicated to his or her craft will have also completed many hours of continuing education each year to keep abreast of all the latest advances. It is also advisable to inquire whether your potential dental surgeon is contributing to the field through ongoing research and/or teaching other dental surgeons.

Ask yourself this question. How can you be comfortable with the procedure if you are not confident in the dental surgeon?

Instrumentation
The most skilled surgeons use the most advanced instrumentation available to improve patient care and the overall outcome of the treatment. The key to successful dental surgery goes far beyond technology, however.

After all, merely having state-of-the-art equipment does not necessarily mean that the dental surgeon will be a talented user of that equipment. The proper cleaning and sterilization of the equipment used is also important. In short, the surgical equipment is only as good as the surgeon who uses it.

At Beverly Hills Periodontics and Dental Implants our entire staff is committed to both our profession and our patients. If you seek the very best in periodontal care, look no further than our offices. You'll soon come to appreciate our level of education, experience, expertise and care we have to offer.

To schedule a consultation or appointment, please contact us for immediate help.