How to Choose an Oral Surgeon in Atlanta

Choosing an oral surgeon in Atlanta or Dunwoody starts with a few practical questions:

Is the doctor trained specifically in oral and maxillofacial surgery?
Is the surgeon board-certified?
Does the office offer the procedure and anesthesia care you may need?
Will the team explain your options, risks, recovery, and costs clearly?

The right practice should make you feel informed—not rushed or pressured.

As oral and maxillofacial surgeons, we know that a referral for surgery can bring some anxiety. Our goal is to understand the problem, explain what we see, and recommend care that fits the patient in front of us.

At Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta, we provide surgical consultations and treatment at our Atlanta and Dunwoody offices, with a focus on safety, communication, and follow-up.

What Is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is a dentist who completes hospital-based surgical and anesthesia training after dental school. The specialty covers conditions involving the teeth, jaws, mouth, and face. That focused training prepares oral surgeons to diagnose surgical problems, perform procedures, manage anesthesia, and respond to complications.

The title matters, but credentials are only one part of the decision. You should also feel comfortable asking how often the surgeon treats your condition, what alternatives may be available, and what support you can expect after the procedure.

What to Look for When Choosing an Oral Surgeon

1. Specialty Training and Board Certification

Ask whether the doctor completed an accredited oral and maxillofacial surgery residency. Board certification is another useful signal. A Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery has completed the board’s certification process and must maintain the requirements of the credential.

Patients can review a surgeon’s education, hospital affiliations, professional memberships, and current life-support certifications before scheduling.

Click here to learn more about Dr. Andrew Aiken.

Click here to learn more about Dr. Drew Shessel.

2. Experience With the Care You Need

Oral surgery includes many different procedures. A consultation should confirm that the surgeon regularly evaluates and treats the issue that brought you in.

Our services include:

Not every patient needs surgery. For example, a wisdom tooth that is healthy, functional, and at low risk for disease may be monitored with examinations and imaging. The recommendation should come from the tooth’s position, symptoms, current disease, future risk, and your overall health—not from a one-size-fits-all rule.

3. A Thoughtful Anesthesia Plan

Comfort and safety begin before the procedure. Depending on the treatment and the patient’s medical history, options may include local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, intravenous sedation, or another planned level of anesthesia.

More medication is not automatically better; the appropriate choice depends on the procedure, health history, anxiety level, and patient preference.

Your surgical team should review medications, allergies, prior anesthesia experiences, and health conditions before treatment. It should also give clear instructions about eating, drinking, transportation, medication, and recovery. No responsible surgeon can promise a completely pain-free experience, but careful planning and attentive follow-up can make treatment more comfortable and predictable.

Learn more about our anesthesia options.

Learn more about our opiate reduction strategies.

4. Careful Diagnosis and Treatment Planning

A good consultation is more than a quick look at an X-ray. The surgeon should review your symptoms and medical history, examine the area, and study the imaging needed for the decision. In some cases, three-dimensional imaging can help show the relationship between teeth, nerves, bone, sinuses, or other anatomy.

You should leave knowing the working diagnosis, the recommended treatment, reasonable alternatives, the expected benefits and risks, and what may happen if you delay or decline treatment. If something is unclear, ask the surgeon to explain it another way.

5. Communication Before and After Surgery

Trust is built through clear answers and realistic expectations. Before scheduling, ask who will perform the procedure, what recovery may look like, how pain and swelling are managed, and how to reach the office if a concern develops. Written pre-operative and post-operative instructions are especially helpful because it can be hard to remember details on the day of surgery.

Coordination also matters. Oral surgeons often work with a patient’s general dentist, orthodontist, physician, or restorative dentist. When several clinicians are involved, the treatment sequence should be clear to everyone.

What to Expect at Your Consultation

Please bring a current medication list, relevant medical information, insurance details, and any imaging or referral information requested by the office. During the visit, we may:

Discuss your symptoms, goals, medical history, and prior dental treatment
Examine the teeth, jaws, mouth, or facial area involved
Review existing X-rays and decide whether more imaging is needed
Explain treatment choices, anesthesia options, risks, and recovery
Review scheduling, estimated fees, and insurance questions

A consultation does not obligate you to have surgery. It is a chance to understand the diagnosis and decide on the next step with accurate information.

Learn more about your first oral surgery consultation here.

Oral Surgery Care in Atlanta and Dunwoody

If your dentist or orthodontist has recommended oral surgery—or if you want an evaluation for a tooth, jaw, implant, or oral-tissue concern—we would be glad to meet with you.

Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta sees patients at 3280 Howell Mill Road NW, Suite 240, in Atlanta and at 4700 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Suite 400, in Dunwoody.

Contact our team to request a consultation and learn what records or imaging to bring.

Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing an Oral Surgeon

What does an oral and maxillofacial surgeon treat?
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons diagnose and treat conditions affecting the teeth, jaws, mouth, and face. Care can include extractions, wisdom teeth, dental implants, bone grafting, impacted teeth, oral biopsies, facial injuries, and other surgical concerns. Services vary by practice, so confirm that the surgeon treats your specific condition.

Why choose a board-certified oral surgeon?
Board certification shows that an oral and maxillofacial surgeon has completed a formal evaluation process through the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and maintains the credential’s requirements. It is one useful factor to consider along with specialty training, relevant experience, communication, and the quality of the treatment plan.

Do I need a referral to see an oral surgeon?
A dentist or orthodontist often makes the referral, but whether one is required can depend on the practice and your insurance plan. Contact the oral surgery office and your insurer before the visit if you are unsure.

What questions should I ask before oral surgery?
Ask why the procedure is recommended, whether there are alternatives, who will perform it, what anesthesia is planned, what risks apply to you, how long recovery may take, and who to call after hours. You can also ask about fees, insurance estimates, and any medical clearance that may be needed.

What anesthesia options are available for oral surgery?
Options may include local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, intravenous sedation, or another planned level of anesthesia. The right option depends on the procedure, medical history, medications, anxiety level, and personal preference. Your surgeon should review these factors and provide preparation and transportation instructions.