Does the person I need to rely upon exercise "consistent good judgment" ?
Except with good judgment, it may take some effort before it becomes apparent . In that case, you really have to rely on extrinsic information, including documented training and experience of the surgeon, and then a face to face with the surgeon.
Bobbit is spot on here. I made this mistake, not with my surgeon but with my orthodontist and I'm back to square one now, only a few thousand dollars poorer and carrying some red flags for new providers. I mean I should have known, he was bulls**tting and didn't really seem to care.
I would add, it's not just surgeon competence that you need to judge. You're also shopping for surgical philosophy, as you can't backseat drive every decision so find someone who shares your values. I don't believe in extra surgery for perfection and so I look for surgeons who share that philosophy for example. Like many here, I also don't believe in useless teeth. And I need someone who is patient and sensitive. When it comes to expertise, I need someone who understands sleep apnea and with orthopaedic expertise. Figure out what traits you are looking for in a surgeon and state them up front in your consults so you and your providers can decide if you are a good match. Some providers can go either way and you make their jobs easier if you tell them which way you want them to go. If not, then don't be afraid to ask for recommendations about who would be a good match. Though by my experience and for reasons I don't understand, I've never been able to get a surgeon to recommend another one even when they aren't competing for business. Last, I would say that this advice is hard to follow when you're starting the research process because we learn along the way. I suggest practicing on local surgeons first, whose relationships aren't likely to be of much value to you anyway. You want to make most use of your time with big name surgeons and don't want to burn bridges.
It sounds simple but this kind of process takes a long time to execute, a few months of time at least and up to a year. You'll live with risks and benefits for a lifetime, 50+ years, so it's worth the effort IMO. Once you pick up these skills, it's good for future surgeries and for your family too so I think it's worth the investment. Each surgery is different but for many procedures I wouldn't consider going to the guy down the street anymore.
