One of the first few questions that we ask any new patient to our office is: are you referred from another office or did you find us on your own? Many patients are a little confused as to why they can't just come in on their own all the time, especially when something hurts! Many times they can, but the truth is, it is all about offering a system of checks and balances to ensure that nothing is done in error. Patients often come in convinced that the cause of their pain is a specific tooth, but we will take an xray and it is an infected tooth nearby that is really the one causing pain. This is what is known as Referred Pain. It is pain coming from somewhere and scattering around. As oral surgeons, much of what we do is irreversible. If we take out a tooth, we can't (generally anyway) put the tooth back so it helps to know that another pair of eyes have examined you and ensured that you are getting the proper tooth extracted. It is also so that there is continuity of care for any cosmetic procedures that you may need, or a lump or bump in the mouth that we need to keep an eye on. If we pull a tooth, you'll want to have a game plan for what will happen to that space, and if something looks suspicious you want as many professionals optimizing your health! If you get a paper referral to your doctor and lose it, don't worry, we can always request the form the day of the consultation. Otherwise they can fill out our convenient online form and we will make an appointment with you directly at your convenience. As we head into the holidays, know that, just like pumpkin pie, family, and extra calories we are here for you too.