By Dr. Jeffrey Chandler, Board-Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon

Elmhurst Oral Surgery  |  elmhurstoralsurgery.com

Whether you’re facing wisdom tooth extraction, dental implant placement, corrective jaw surgery, or the treatment of an oral pathology, choosing an oral surgeon is one of the most consequential healthcare decisions you can make. Your surgeon’s training, judgment, and communication style will directly shape your outcome.

I’ve been practicing oral and maxillofacial surgery for years, and I’ve seen what happens when patients don’t feel empowered to ask questions before a procedure. My advice? Ask everything. A surgeon who is bothered by an informed patient is not the right surgeon for you.

Here are the seven questions I’d recommend asking any oral surgeon you’re considering.

Question 1: Are you a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon?

This isn’t meant to be a gotcha question, it’s foundational. Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) is a recognized surgical specialty that requires a minimum of four years of hospital-based residency training after dental school. Many programs are integrated with medical school, leading to both a DDS/DMD and an MD degree.

Board certification by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS) requires passing rigorous written and oral examinations and recertification every ten years. It’s a voluntary credential that signals a surgeon’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards in the field.

Why it matters: Not every practitioner performing oral surgical procedures has completed a full OMS residency. General dentists can legally perform extractions and, in some cases, place implants. That doesn’t mean they’re unqualified—but for complex procedures, you want someone whose entire surgical training was dedicated to this specialty.

Question 2: How many times have you performed this specific procedure?

Experience matters, but so does recency and specificity. A surgeon who placed 50 implants a decade ago and rarely performs them now isn’t the same as one who places implants weekly.

Don’t be embarrassed to ask. Any confident, competent surgeon will answer this question directly. You might also ask about their complication rates and how they handle complications when they arise. How a surgeon responds to that question tells you as much as the numbers themselves.

What to listen for: Specific numbers, not vague assurances. A surgeon who says “I’ve done thousands” without any qualification is different from one who says “I place approximately 15–20 implants per month and have for the past eight years.”

Question 3: What are the risks specific to my case?

Every surgical procedure carries inherent risks, infection, nerve damage, bleeding, adverse anesthesia reactions. But a skilled surgeon won’t stop at generic disclaimers. They’ll review your medical history, individual anatomy, your imaging, your medical history, and tell you what specific risk factors they’re thinking about in your case.

This question also reveals how thoroughly your surgeon has reviewed your records. If they can’t speak to your individual risk profile, that’s a flag.

My approach at Elmhurst Oral Surgery: Before any consultation, I review all available imaging and medical records. When we meet, I walk patients through exactly what I see in their anatomy, what I’m planning, and where the points of clinical complexity are. Informed consent isn’t paperwork to me, it’s a critical conversation.

Question 4: What type of anesthesia will be used, and who will be administering it?

Oral surgeons trained in accredited OMS residencies receive extensive training in office-based anesthesia, including IV sedation and general anesthesia. This is one of the distinguishing features of our specialty.

In my practice, I administer and monitor anesthesia personally, with trained surgical assistants. Patients should feel comfortable asking: Is the surgeon also the anesthesiologist? What monitoring equipment is in place? What is the protocol if there’s a reaction?

Why this matters: Office-based sedation and anesthesia are safe when administered by properly trained personnel with the right equipment. The risk comes when procedures are performed by practitioners whose anesthesia training was limited. Ask, and trust your instincts about how the answer is delivered.

Question 5: What does recovery look like, and what is your protocol for post-operative concerns?

Recovery expectations vary widely by procedure. Wisdom tooth removal in a healthy 22-year-old is a very different recovery than full-arch implant surgery in a 60-year-old with a history of bone loss. You want a surgeon who gives you personalized, honest recovery guidance.

Also ask: What happens if I have a problem after hours? Can I reach someone directly? Do you have a protocol for post-op complications?

At Elmhurst Oral Surgery, we provide every patient with direct contact information for after-hours concerns. Surgery doesn’t end when the patient leaves our office. I want my patients to feel supported through every phase of healing.

Question 6: Do you have hospital privileges?

Hospital privileges indicate that a surgeon has been credentialed by a hospital’s medical staff committee, an independent review of their training, competency, and professional standing. It’s an additional layer of professional vetting beyond the surgeon’s own claims.

For most routine procedures (wisdom teeth, implants, biopsies), your surgery will take place in-office. But hospital privileges matter because they signal that the surgeon is recognized as competent by an external institution and that if your procedure ever required hospital-based care, your surgeon could provide continuity.

Board-certified OMS physicians routinely maintain hospital privileges – mine are with Endeavor Health. 

Question 7: Have you addressed cases similar to mine?

A surgeon who has built a strong track record will have documented cases to share. Ask whether those patients had similar anatomy, bone quality, or medical histories to yours.

This question also gives you a window into how the surgeon communicates about their work. Are they proud of their outcomes? Do they talk about the clinical reasoning behind each case? Or do they seem reluctant to engage with specifics?

A great surgeon is a great communicator. Your consultation should leave you feeling informed, respected, and genuinely confident in your decision, not pressured or rushed.

The Bottom Line: You Deserve an Expert You Trust

Oral surgery is not a commodity. The surgeon you choose will affect your comfort, your safety, your recovery, and sometimes your long-term facial structure and bite. You have every right to be selective, to ask hard questions, and to walk away from a consultation that doesn’t feel right.

At Elmhurst Oral Surgery, we welcome every question on this list. Patients who come in prepared have better outcomes, not because the surgery is easier, but because understanding and trust reduce anxiety, improve compliance with post-operative care, and lead to a better overall experience.

If you’re searching for a Chicagoland oral surgeon, I’d be honored to be evaluated by the same standard I’ve outlined here. Come with your questions. I’ll come with answers.

Have questions for Dr. Chandler? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Jeffrey Chandler at Elmhurst Oral Surgery and experience the difference that board-certified expertise, transparent communication, and personalized care can make. elmhurstoralsurgery.com