When you or someone you care about needs oral surgery, the instinct is to search "oral surgeon near me" and call whoever comes up first. But oral surgery — whether it's wisdom teeth removal, dental implants, a bone graft, or treatment for facial trauma — is a significant procedure. The surgeon you choose has a real impact on your comfort, your outcome, and your recovery.
Here's how to make a well-informed choice rather than a random one.
## Start with Board Certification
The most important credential to verify is board certification from the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS). Board certification is not automatic — it requires passing rigorous written and oral examinations after completing a surgical residency. Many oral surgeons have completed residency training but have not pursued or achieved board certification.
You can verify board certification status at the ABOMS website (aboms.org). When a surgeon is board-certified, it means an independent professional body has verified their clinical knowledge and competency meets the highest standard in the specialty.
At Oral Surgeons of Indiana, all three of our surgeons are board-certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
## Verify Residency Training
Ask about residency training. Oral surgery residency programs vary in length:
- **4-year programs** — include comprehensive oral surgery training
- **6-year programs** — include a full medical degree (MD) along with rotations in hospital specialties including anesthesiology, trauma surgery, and oncology
Both qualify surgeons to practice oral surgery. The 6-year program provides additional medical training that is particularly relevant for complex cases, patients with systemic medical conditions, and any situation involving IV anesthesia.
## Look for AAOMS Membership
Membership in the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) indicates that a surgeon is engaged with the profession's highest standards of continuing education, ethics, and practice guidelines. AAOMS members commit to ongoing education requirements and adherence to professional standards.
## Check IV Sedation Credentials
If your procedure involves IV sedation — which is recommended for most surgical wisdom teeth removals, dental implant placements, and many other procedures — verify that the surgeon holds an active state anesthesia permit.
Administering IV sedation requires specific licensure beyond general dental licensure. In Indiana, this requires a separate permit issued after passing state inspection. You can verify permit status through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.
## Read Google and Healthgrades Reviews — Thoughtfully
Online reviews are genuinely useful, but read them thoughtfully:
- Look for **volume and consistency** — a practice with 60+ reviews averaging 4.8 stars is more meaningful than one with 10 reviews at 5.0
- Look for **specificity** — reviews that mention surgeon names, specific procedures, and detailed experiences tend to be more reliable than generic praise
- Look at **how the practice responds to negative reviews** — a professional, constructive response to a complaint tells you more about the practice culture than the complaint itself
- Look for mentions of **communication, comfort, and staff kindness** — these are often as important to patients as technical outcomes
## Ask About Imaging Technology
For dental implant planning, bone grafting, or any complex extraction, cone beam CT (CBCT) imaging — a 3D X-ray of the jaw — is the standard of care. It provides information about bone density, volume, and anatomy that a flat panoramic X-ray simply cannot.
Ask whether the practice has in-office CBCT. Having this technology in-house means faster, more convenient care and imaging that your surgeon has reviewed themselves — not an outside radiology report.
## Schedule a Consultation Before Committing
A reputable oral surgery practice will always offer a consultation before scheduling a procedure. Use this appointment to assess:
- Does the surgeon explain your situation clearly and answer all your questions?
- Do you feel heard and respected?
- Are the costs explained transparently?
- Is the staff warm, organized, and professional?
Your comfort and confidence in the surgical team matters. You should leave the consultation feeling informed and at ease — not rushed or pressured.
## Questions to Ask at Your Consultation
- Are you board-certified by the ABOMS?
- How many procedures like mine have you performed?
- Do you have in-office IV sedation and cone beam CT imaging?
- What are all my treatment options?
- What does recovery look like and how will I be supported?
- What is the estimated cost and what does my insurance cover?
## Why Choose Oral Surgeons of Indiana?
We were built to be exactly the kind of practice this guide describes. Our team offers:
- **Board-certified surgeons** — all three hold ABOMS certification
- **AAOMS members** — committed to the highest professional standards
- **In-office CBCT imaging** — for precise surgical planning
- **Full IV sedation capabilities** — with active state anesthesia permits
- **4.8-star rating with 61+ verified Google reviews**
- **25+ years serving Central Indiana patients**
- **Transparent cost estimates** and multiple financing options
## What Patients Say About Oral Surgeons of Indiana
The most authentic window into any practice is what real patients say after their experience. Here is what our patients consistently highlight in their reviews:
- **"I was terrified, and they made me feel completely at ease before, during, and after surgery."**
- **"They explained every step before they did it, which made a huge difference for my anxiety."**
- **"I had a complex implant case with bone loss. Dr. [Surgeon] was honest about what I needed and the plan was exactly right."**
- **"The staff remembered me and treated me like a person, not a patient number."**
- **"Pricing was transparent. No surprises."**
These themes — comfort, communication, honesty, and clinical excellence — are what we set out to deliver every day. We believe you deserve to know exactly what's going on with your health, what your options are, and what your care will cost. That's the standard we hold ourselves to.
If you'd like to read our full reviews, you can find us on Google under "Oral Surgeons of Indiana."
Call (317) 876-1095 or schedule a consultation online. We serve patients throughout Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Zionsville, Westfield, Noblesville, and the greater Central Indiana region.
Explore our services: wisdom teeth removal, dental implants, and IV sedation oral surgery.