Hi Dorynoel,

<<Have a DMO. This limits my dentist choices. I searched tirelessly for a biological dentist in my area but none are in my DMO plan.>>

THE REASON THEY DO NOT PARTICIPATE IS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO DICTATE THE DENTAL TREATMENT. IN OTHER WORDS THESE DENTISTS ARE NOT WILLING TO PERFORM PROCEDURES WHEN THEY ARE NOT NECESSARY OR BENEFICIAL FOR THE PATIENT JUST BECAUSE THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL PAY FOR THEM.

<< During the open enrollment period I can change my plan which will allow me more flexibility in choosing a dentist. So I am thinking I may let this heal and wait it out and change out of the DMO plan so then Iwill have the flexibility to see a biological dentist in my area. >>

WHEN SEARCHING FOR A DENTIST WITHIN A PARTICULAR INSURANCE PLAN, PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT DENTISTS OPT OUT OF INS PLANS FREQUENTLY. SO ONE DAY HE MAY PARTICIPATE AND NOT THE NEXT.

<<Can you offer advice on how to make a decision amongst them? So I can try to choose the better dentist? >>

IDEALLY CHOSE A DENTIST WHO DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY INSURANCE PLAN AS THIS DENTIST WILL TREAT YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL. MANY NON PARTICIPATING DENTISTS OFFER VARIOUS FINANCIAL DISCOUNTS OR PAYMENT PLANS TO NON INSURED PATIENTS. KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU ARE PAYING A PREMIUM AMOUNT TO CARRY THE INSURANCE ON TOP OF YOUR OUT OF POCKET COSTS FOR DENTAL CARE. SO WEIGH OUT IF THE ACTUAL INSURANCE BENEFIT DOLLARS ARE WORTH WHAT IT COST YOU TO HAVE IT.

OTHER THAN THAT... IT IS BEST TO SEE A DENTIST WHO IS NOT USING ANTIQUATED EQUIPMENT AND HAS THE MORE RECENT EQUIPMENT, ONE WHO FOLLOWS THE PROPER AMALGAM REMOVAL PROTOCOL AND DOESN'T SNICKER AT THE MENTION OF THE TOXICITY OF MERCURY OR ROOT CANALS, DIGITAL XRAYS, A HYGIENIST, A CLEAN AND UPDATED OFFICE, ONE WHO FOCUSES ON YOU AND IS NOT DISTRACTED BY OTHER THINGS GOING ON WHILE YOU ARE IN HIS CHAIR, ONE WHO STRIVES TO MAKE YOUR VISIT COMFORTABLE RATHER THAN ONE WHO MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU JUST HAVE TO GRIN AND BEAR IT, AND THE OFFICE STAFF SHOULD BE CLEAN, NEAT AND KNOWLEDGEABLE.

<<How long will it take for this to heal? Stop hurting? Swelling to go down? Typically? How long before I know I'm in the clear for infection?>>

THE HEALING DEPENDS ON MANY THINGS.... YOUR OVERALL HEALTH, YOUR DIET AND HOW WELL YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF POST OPERATIVELY, THE SITE OF THE INFECTION AND HOW DEEP AND WIDESPREAD IT IS, THE WORK OF THE SURGEON AND HOW STERILE AND THOROUGH THE PROCEDURE WAS, ETC.
EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT RATE OF HEALING. IF AT ANYTIME YOU FEEL YOU ARE NOT HEALING OR YOU DEVELOP SYMPTOMS OF A SYSTEMIC INFECTION LIKE FEVER, SWOLLEN GLANDS, ILL HEALTH.... THEN SEE THE ORAL SURGEON FOR EVALUATION.