Maybe you’ve been told by your dentist that you need oral surgery.
Maybe you (or your child, spouse, etc.) are experiencing pain in your mouth or jaw region and you know that something isn’t right.
Either way, it’s likely you’re going to need a procedure in the near future to fix the issue and alleviate the pain or discomfort.
So just like everyone does these days, you go to the internet to look for someone who is highly-trained, specialized, and seems to be loved by their current patients.
However, it’s confusing.
What are you really looking for? How do you differentiate dentists from oral surgeons, and to that point, one oral surgeon from another?
In this article, we’re going to share with you a little bit about our philosophy and why we believe you should choose Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta for wisdom teeth extractions, dental implants, and other procedures that we perform on a daily basis.
If you are in the Atlanta area or really anywhere in the Southeastern United States, and are looking for an oral surgeon, we encourage you to read our reviews, watch some of our video testimonials from patients, and read the article below to get a better understanding of what separates us from other practices.
1. EXCELLENT CHAIRSIDE MANNER (READ OUR REVIEWS)
We understand that, even though oral surgery is part of our daily routine, that isn’t the case for you or your children.
We know it can be scary; the words surgery, procedure, treatment...they can all be scary and intimidating.
We also understand that this may be your very first surgery and we don’t take that lightly.
You can call it an attitude of compassion or empathy, but we always “put ourselves in your shoes” to better understand how you’re feeling. We look for ways to ensure your experience is a positive one.
Sure, no one wakes up and wants to go to the oral surgeon, but we do our very best to ensure your experience is calm, comfortable, and relaxed once you are here.
That being said, we can say all we want about the quality of our practice and how much patients love our top rated oral surgeons, but the proof is in the reviews and testimonials. Without those our words don’t mean much.
Here are what a few patients have to say about our chairside manner and overall experience at Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta:
Haley Matell
I chose this practice based on their overall 5 rating and they did not disappoint. Dr. Aiken extracted my son's 4 wisdom teeth on 9/18. My son opted for a combination of Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas), Local Anesthesia, and the new medication administered during the procedure to minimize post-operative pain (can't recall the name, but it was worth the extra cost). He stated that Dr. Aiken was very kind and reassuring during the surgery. Not once did my son complain of post surgery pain. His surgery was on a Tuesday and by Friday he was back at work. The entire office staff was great! Dr. Aiken called personally to follow up and check on my son. They are the best and very worthy of t heir high rating.
Patricia Lobo
I came to this office after going through a difficult experience at another office out of the country. The oral surgeon that removed my wisdom tooth left pieces tooth and I couldn't stand the pain. I had to do my surgery again to remove the residue. Dr Shessel was amazing. I had a great experience with all the staff. They are very professional and caring.
Nicole Lee
Called Friday morning and had an appointment later that morning. Dr. Aiken is AWESOME! The staff is so amazing. If you ever need dental work this is the place to go. I wish I was able to give 10 stars. Office manager Cindy and Dr. Aiken both called me over the weekend to check up on me and make sure I was healing good. BEST people ever!!!
Alyse Williams
Out of all the oral surgery practices in Atlanta, I chose Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta because of their 5star rating and personal reviews and they did not disappoint. Dr. Shessel and his staff were extremely professional and helpful during the whole process. Although I was extremely anxious about removing all 4 of my wisdom teeth, Dr. Shessel and his staff made sure to calm my fears and answer any questions I had. I would highly encourage anyone looking for the best oral surgeon to visit Dr. Shessel and his team!
Sarah Novak
Quick and painless wisdom tooth removal with proper follow up care. I felt comfortable here, even with ‘white coat syndrome’ . My Wisdom tooth socket is almost healed and I have not experience any complications. Up to date medical equipment and friendly staff made my time at this facility a 10+. * This location accepts care credit as a form of payment.
Carolyn Scales
One of the best oral surgeon I have ever been to. This place was recommended to me by my dentist. They were very gentle with me and took very good care of me. I only went for a consultation but my Doctor had time to take care of my needs all in the same day. The dental assistant never left my side. I had an awesome and amazing appointment. May God Bless.
You can read more patient reviews on Google here, or visit the link below to see what patients (as well as referring dentists) have to say about our practice:
2. WE GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO BE A SERVICE-DRIVEN, PATIENT-FIRST PRACTICE
Nothing is more important at our practice than our patients...period. Not our team, not the doctors, no one.
Surgery should not be an impersonal experience, making you feel that you’re just a number. Sure that methodology can be efficient at times, but it’s just not how we do things.
At Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta, you or your child, spouse, etc. are more than just a number; you’re a real human being who has questions and concerns. We want to make sure you understand everything and are comfortable.
While we do many “service-related” things for our patients, here are a few:
The Ritz-Carlton experience. No one wants to have oral surgery, but if it’s necessary, we think you might as well get treated like royalty.
You’ll see the same doctor throughout your procedure. Dr. Aiken and Dr. Shessel both have a vast amount of experience with extractions, placing implants, and with many other procedures, and are both board certified and qualified to do any procedure you need. That being said, we understand that patients will develop rapport with a particular doctor, so we ensure you see one doctor from the time of your first consult all the way through your post-op appointment.
We will call you to see how you’re doing. This isn’t just a profession. We have a vested interest in a successful outcome for every patient. We genuinely care for each person who comes through our doors. You’ll get a personal call from us a few days after your surgery to check on you.
If you choose Dr. Aiken or Dr. Shessel for your oral and facial surgery needs, you’ll be in great hands before, during, and after your procedure.
3. THERE ARE KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN US AND YOUR GENERAL DENTIST
General (family) dentists are great. In fact, they are the backbone of the dental field and are the first line of defense (other than routine brushing and flossing) toward preventing a variety of dental issues and improving your overall oral health and wellness.
The relationship between a general dentist and an oral surgeon is similar to the relationship between a family physician and a surgeon. It’s not that one is “better” than the other, they simply serve two different roles in the care and treatment process.
As oral surgeons, Dr. Aiken and Dr. Shessel have advanced training above and beyond a DMD, and are Diplomates of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Not only did they complete several more years of school after getting their DMDs, they also completed a 350-question written exam and an oral exam to become board certified.
We feel it’s important that oral surgery is completed by a board certified oral surgeon. That may sound like common sense, but many people have oral surgery procedures completed by a general dentist.
Again, it’s not that a general dentist can’t perform the procedure, it’s that they typically do not do them day in and day out as part of their daily routine like an oral surgeon does.
It’s really simple, the more you work at your craft, the more proficient you become. At Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta, Dr. Aiken and Dr. Shessel have extracted 40,000+ teeth and performed countless oral surgery procedures.
4. WE’RE EXTREMELY EFFICIENT AND WE UNDERSTAND YOUR TIME IS VALUABLE
While everyone on the team at Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta are very accommodating with their time in answering any questions or concerns you may have, we are also efficient.
We know you don’t want to wait long or have a surgery that lasts longer than it should. Being that oral surgery is all we do at our office, we’ve gotten our procedures, processes, and systems down to a science.
You’ll receive the personalized, one-on-one care you need, but we won’t take up any more of your time than needed to get the job done. In fact, after surgery, many patients or their family members have remarked, “Wow, that was fast!”
We never, ever rush (we are meticulous and take our time). It’s just that when you’re experienced in something and have done it thousands of times like we have, it doesn’t take as long.
5. YOU GET ONE-ON-ONE, INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION DURING YOUR CONSULT
When you or someone you love are about to have oral surgery, we don’t think a quick “in the door, out the door” consult is the best way to do things.
As part of the “Ritz Carlton” experience you’ll receive when visiting our practice, we do one-on-one consultations with the doctor who will perform your surgery.
You’ll be given the opportunity to ask your surgeon (not a staff member) any questions you have. To be honest, we hope you have questions because we enjoy helping patients better understand their options!
Your consultation will generally last around half an hour, so you’ll get plenty of time with Dr. Aiken or Dr. Shessel without feeling hurried, pressured, or rushed into anything. It’s part of the unique patient experience we provide at Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta.
6. WE’RE LICENSED TO OFFER A VARIETY OF SEDATION OPTIONS
Do you know that you need a special license to administer certain types of sedation?
At Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta, we obtained all required licensing to administer oral, nitrous oxide, or IV sedation for dental procedures.
When appropriate, we like to give our patients options. We are happy to discuss the benefits of each and to make recommendations for what we feel is best for you or your family member.
When you talk with Dr. Aiken or Dr. Shessel about your sedation, you’ll get their opinion, but know that you have a say, as well. We want to ensure you are sedated as needed, but also want you to feel comfortable with the sedation method.
7. WE KNOW WHAT TO DO DURING DIFFICULT SURGERIES
Experience matters. While we do everything in our power to eliminate any unforeseen circumstances before surgery (and are successful with almost every patient), oral surgery is surgery and something unforeseen could happen during your procedure.
If this were to occur with yourself, your child, or your spouse, wouldn’t you want an experienced surgeon in the room who can deal with the situation in a calm, methodical manner?
You certainly don’t want someone who just does an oral surgery “here and there.” You want someone who can think with a level head and has the experience, knowledge, and clarity to find a solution and fix whatever issues arise.
For example, let’s say that a tooth fractures during an extraction procedure. This is sometimes hard to predict during a consultation, but is actually somewhat common during surgery.
When this occurs you want to have an experienced oral surgeon taking care of you. It’s quite common for Dr's Aiken and Shessel to be called upon by non-oral surgeons who couldn't complete a procedure due to this routine complication.
Choosing an oral surgeon from the onset can save both the patient and his/her dentist a lot of time and headache, plus give you peace of mind knowing you are having your extraction performed by someone who does this day in and day out.
8. WE HAVE A CT SCANNER ON SITE FOR MORE ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Traditional panoramic x-rays alone are often inadequate when planning a successful oral surgery. In fact, traditional x-rays can miss nerves and sinuses that are too close to the surgical area.
We have an on-site 3D CT scanner to quickly and easily get the imaging we need for a more accurate diagnosis and treatment. Getting a CT scan versus an x-ray is a lot like seeing the entire iceberg versus just the tip sticking out of the water. We need to see everything in and around the surgical area to avoid any unforeseen issues.
If we see anything that could be a problem, we’ll communicate that with you before your surgery, as well as give you your options and our recommendations. Our goal is to arm ourselves with as much information as possible so that we can communicate clearly with you and provide the best treatment possible.
9. WE CAN LIMIT YOUR NEED FOR POTENTIALLY HABIT-FORMING NARCOTICS AFTER SURGERY
There is no doubt that prescription drug addiction is a serious concern in the United States. It is estimated that more than 15 million Americans abuse prescription drugs and 2,500 youths age 12-17 abuse a prescription drug for the first time according to this Foundation for a Drug Free World article.
It’s an epidemic and something we take very seriously when prescribing pain medications after oral surgery.
At Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta, we want to provide you with the pain relief you need. We do so in a responsible way. This is why we are administering Exparel® injections to many patients after their oral surgery.
Exparel is a single dose, non-opioid injection that can reduce the need for pain medications following your surgery. We’ve administered it successfully to many patients with satisfying results. If you would like to learn more about Exparel, visit their website below:
10. WE WERE VOTED “BEST ORAL SURGEON” BY ATLANTA MAGAZINE 5 YEARS IN A ROW!
From 2018-2022 we have been voted “best oral surgeon” in the Atlanta area… an award we’re very proud of!
“Since 1961, Atlanta magazine, the city’s premier general interest publication, has served as the authority on Atlanta, providing its readers with a mix of long-form nonfiction, lively lifestyle coverage, in-depth service journalism, and literary essays, columns, and profiles.” (source)
We are happy to have been voted as the best oral surgery in Atlanta 5 years in a row.
11. 40,000+ TOOTH EXTRACTION PROCEDURES (AND COUNTING)...
You don’t want to walk into a dental or oral surgery office not knowing how experienced your surgeon really is.
At Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta, Dr. Aiken and Dr. Shessel are both scientists and artists when it comes to tooth extractions, placing dental implants, and any other form of oral surgery.
With thousands of teeth extracted and countless procedures under their belts, you can feel confident knowing that when you choose us for your oral surgery, you’re selecting a surgeon who has the experience to get the job done right the first time.
SO HERE’S YOUR NEXT STEP…
Choosing an oral surgeon isn’t an easy thing to do, but we hope this article has helped you to understand our practice on a deeper level.
As one of the leading oral surgery practices in the greater Atlanta area, we understand that we are taking your oral health into our hands, and as such, we treat every patient (and their family) with dignity, respect, compassion, and professionalism.
If you’re a parent reading this, we especially want to let you know that we will treat your child like our very own children, nieces, or nephews when they are under our care.
At Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta, Dr. Aiken and Dr. Shessel are committed to providing the impeccable care and treatment you would expect from a big city practice, while at the same time providing the level of hospitality and personalized follow-up care you would expect from small town, family-friendly doctors.
If you would like to learn more about our practice or if you’re ready to schedule your appointment, please contact us here or call our office today. We look forward to meeting you and your family, and we look forward to providing you with everything you need for a stress-free, hassle-free oral surgery experience.
If you haven’t already, please make sure to check out our reviews and testimonials to see what other patients are saying about their experience with Dr. Aiken and Dr. Shessel at Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta.
