Bradley Belous, DMD describes his younger self as a "tinkerer". He always loved working with his hands, spending time working on model cars, bicycles and other various projects.
As he got older, this love for learning how things worked turned into a love for science and biology — ultimately leading him to a career in dentistry.
Dr. Belous is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Chester County Hospital, where he has worked since 2020. In that time, he has worked to help patients be less scared of the dentist — and to relieve them of their pain.
While dentistry might not be the first thing you think of when you think of a hospital, the services provided by oral surgeons are a key part of our individual and community health.
What Is an Oral Surgeon?
If you're keeping up-to-date on your twice-a-year cleanings, then you're no stranger to dentists. Cleanings are a key part of maintaining your oral health all year long. But sometimes, you need more serious care than your family dentist can provide. This is where oral surgeons like Dr. Belous come in.
Like a dentist, oral surgeons complete four years of dental school after earning their bachelor's degree. Oral surgeons take their studies even further by doing a hospital-based residency that lasts four to six years. Residency allows them to become familiar with the hospital setting, the kinds of care that patients require and the surgical elements of their responsibilities.
Dr. Belous says residency is really what allows oral surgeons to be the link between medicine and dentistry that can sometimes be missed.
"I think it's commonly misunderstood how intertwined our oral health is with our overall health," Dr. Belous explains. "It's really important for everybody to know that taking care of your body (like not smoking) or controlling systemic conditions (like diabetes) will lead to better dental health — and vice versa. Better dental health contributes to better health in general."
The different parts of your body are working together to contribute to your overall health. You may not give much thought to your routine or daily dental habits, but they can have a big impact on your health.
What Does an Oral Surgeon Do?
While the dentists you might be familiar with typically perform regular cleanings, cavity fillings and root canals, oral surgeons have a different set of responsibilities. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons:
-
Extract teeth — including impacted wisdom teeth or other complex tooth removals
- Perform dental implant surgery
- Perform corrective jaw surgery or surgery for facial trauma
- Remove or treat oral/facial cysts and tumors
- Treat sleep apnea or perform sleep apnea surgery
- Administer anesthesia
Many duties of a Chester County Hospital oral surgeon, like extracting teeth, can happen in their own offices located throughout Chester County, PA, but they also spend a few days a month inside the hospital. They are also always on call for emergencies at Chester County Hospital, too.
Oral surgeons like Dr. Belous are a part of a large medical community working to help people live their best and healthiest lives every day — and part of their responsibilities include connecting patients to other providers.
"If someone does need treatment that requires another provider -- whether it's a dentist, primary care physician, ENT or a plastic surgeon -- we're in a unique position as oral surgeons to refer them to the best care," says Dr. Belous. "We're familiar with both referrals within the dental network and within the medical network, so we have the ability to get patients the care that they need, even if it's not provided by us."
Get Expert Care with Chester County Hospital's Oral Surgeons
Different oral or facial conditions might bring you into an oral surgeon's office — and they can often be scary or complex situations. Dr. Belous realizes that many people are afraid of dentists or oral surgeons, but he loves getting the opportunity to change their minds.
"A lot of people are terrified of anything that has to do with their oral health or teeth," he explains. "Everyone seems to have a story of how when they were a kid they had a horrible experience at the dentist. And ever since then they've been terrified of getting anything done in their mouth. I really like when I can change that mindset for a patient."
When patients come into Dr. Belous' office, they often have a problem, are in pain and are feeling nervous. Dr. Belous and his team work to create a comfortable environment so patients know that they are safe — and that they don't have to be afraid. Helping patients get over their fear of the dentist and providing them immediate relief is one of Dr. Belous' favorite parts of his job.
With regular brushing and flossing, you can protect your oral and overall health every day — but when you need more complex care, Chester County Hospital's oral and maxillofacial surgeons are here to help.
For more information about oral and maxillofacial surgeons at Chester County Hospital, call our Physician Referral Service at 800-789-PENN (7366), or visit the Find a Doctor section of our website.