As a patient, how will I know whether my wisdom tooth surgery is complex enough that it warrants an OMS surgeon versus a general dentist?

Doctor's Answer

See your general dentist for an initial clinical and radiographic evaluation.

Your dentist will decide if the case falls within the scope of difficulty that they are comfortable managing. Different dentists have different levels of experience with removing wisdom teeth surgically, so there is no single cutoff point across the board that will apply to all general dentists.

It may be worthwhile having a specialist remove your tooth if there is a high risk of an oroantral perforation or if the roots of the wisdom tooth are in extremely close proximity to the inferior dental canal. However, this does not guarantee zero complications, only that if complications do occur, you will not need a separate referral at a later date.

In the end, it is down to trust and open communication. If you trust the judgment of your dentist, then you will be able to accept the recommendation that is given to you.

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