Oral Surgeon Cocoa

Why do I need an examination or consultation?

The oral surgeon reviews several things: the treatment that is recommended, your medical history, X-rays and the treatment that the oral surgeon believes is best for your continued oral health. He will discuss the findings with you (or parent for minors), provide an estimate of the surgical fees and will review the surgical consent form… all in the best interest of the patient.

Why do I need X-Rays?

X-rays help the oral surgeon determine the overall health and condition of a tooth as well as its position to adjacent teeth or nerves. X-rays also show the health of the existing bone in the jaw or around a tooth.

Why do I need a different X-ray if my general dentist already has one?

In many cases, the x-ray your general dentist may has may be a “bite wing” or a “full mouth series”. Bite wings cannot be used for oral surgery, while 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 (Panorex) X-ray to see a full view of the teeth and the surrounding structures. This type of X-ray has little radiation exposure (less than going out into full sun) and is easy on the patient.

What is the fee for removing a tooth?

The surgical fee for the extraction of a tooth depends on the code level used by the ADA (American Dental Association). According to the ADA there are 6 different dental codes for the extraction of a tooth.  A simple extraction has the lowest dental code and the lowest fee; the most difficult extraction (usually a wisdom tooth that is completely covered by bone and gum tissue and cannot be seen by the naked eye) is the highest code level and the highest fee.

 Before the oral surgeon performs any treatment, he will examine the tooth and the radiograph (X-Ray) provided. If you do not have a radiograph, we can take the appropriate radiograph for your oral surgery need.  The oral surgeon will then be able to give you an estimate of the fee.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept cash, local checks (within 50 miles) written on a local bank with proper ID, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Cashier’s Checks, and money orders. We also accept CareCredit Health Care Financing.

Do I need a referral from my primary care doctor or my general dentist to see the oral surgeon?

If you have a dentist, it is ideal that you bring a referral to ensure good communication between the oral surgeon and your dentist.

If you do not have a dentist, our oral surgeons are happy to provide your oral surgery care.

Do you take my insurance?

We are not a contracted provider with most insurance carriers. Many insurance carriers make payment to our office, however, a select few do not. Our experienced business staff will make every effort to attain the maximum benefit for the insurance benefits that are available to you. Employer insurance plans are a  benefit which may reduce the cost of oral surgery care, but not eliminate it entirely.

If you have questions about your particular insurance plan, please ask to speak with one of our business office professionals. HMO plans have restrictions (i.e. Health First, Aetna HMO and others). For an HMO plan and to receive benefits from your plan, you must see a contracted provider listed in your plan booklet. At this time, there are no oral surgeons in Brevard County that participate in any HMO plan.

What if I need oral surgery and I take Coumadin or Plavix?

It is important that we know if you take a blood thinner such as Coumadin or Plavix. When you come into our office for your initial appointment, the oral surgeon will determine if the prescribing physician of your blood thinner needs to be contacted. Our office will call the treating physician and their office will advise you as to pre-surgical Coumadin instructions.

Please, never stop taking your medication without the advice of your prescribing physician.

If I have a question on the weekend following oral surgery, will I be able to reach the doctor?

Our main office telephone line (321.631.7000) is answered during the evening and weekends by our answering service.  The answering service operator will be happy to take your message and refer it to your oral surgeon who will return the call.

Please be sure to provide the correct number for the doctor to reach you. The answering service cannot  accept appointment cancellations.

Why does the parent of a minor need to be at the consultation?

Though we do surgery in the mouth, it is surgery. During the consultation, questions are answered, treatment is explained, surgical consents are signed, and the estimate for the surgery fee is generated. For children of legal age with a parent who is financially responsible, we recommend the parent attend the consultation.  In many cases, the parent has financial questions regarding oral surgery or post-operative care following surgery.

For minors, a parent or legal guardian must be present at the consultation and on the day of surgery.

When won’t the oral surgeon extract a tooth?

When a tooth is restorable (meaning it can be repaired and saved), the oral surgeon may advise that you first talk with your regular dentist or an endodontist, a special dentist who does root canal treatment. Although extraction of a tooth is less expensive than a root canal or crown, future problems can be very costly.

In rare cases, a wisdom tooth may not be extracted, especially if it is not causing problems. Situations are varied and may be due to age of the patient, medical history or other significant issues.