Oral Surgery FAQs
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions patients have about dentistry and oral health issues. If you have any other questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact our dental office. We would love to hear from you.
Q: WHY DO I NEED AN EXAMINATION OR CONSULTATION?
The oral surgeon reviews several things: your medical history, radiographs, and the treatment the surgeon believes is best for your continued oral health. Dr. Hilmi will discuss the findings with you, provide an estimate of the surgical fees, and review the surgical consent form … all in the best interest of the patient.
Q: WHY DO I NEED X-RAY FILMS?
X-rays help us determine the overall health and condition of your teeth and bones, as well as their position to adjacent teeth or nerves.
Q: WHY DO I NEED A DIFFERENT X-RAY IF MY GENERAL DENTIST ALREADY HAS ONE?
A lot of times, the X-ray your general dentist may has may be a “bite wing” or periapical. Bite wings and periapical films cannot be used for oral surgery; a full-mouth series can be used in some cases. If your dentist has X-rays, it never hurts to bring them to your oral surgery appointment or have your general dentist mail the X-rays to our office. If it is determined that we need a new X-ray, we will let you know as soon as we can once you have arrived for your appointment.
For extraction of wisdom teeth, dental implants, and other surgical procedures, we use a panoramic X-ray to see a full view of the teeth and the surrounding anatomy. This digital X-ray has extraordinarily little radiation exposure (less than going out into full sunshine) and is simple to obtain.
Q: WHAT IS THE FEE FOR REMOVING A TOOTH?
The surgical fee for the extraction of a tooth is based on the code level used by the ADA (American Dental Association). There are six different dental codes for the extraction of a tooth. A simple extraction has the lowest fee; more difficult extractions are coded higher(usually, an impacted wisdom tooth is the highest code level and the highest fee.)