Oral Surgery

Oral surgery covers surgical procedures that address conditions affecting your teeth, gums, jaw, and surrounding bone. The Dental West team performs oral surgery in-house — including tooth removal, wisdom teeth extractions, sinus lifts, gum grafts, and bone grafts. Your surgical care stays in one trusted place without the need for an outside specialist referral.

You will know if you need oral surgery after a consultation. Your dentist may recommend oral surgery if you have a tooth that can't be saved with a filling, crown, or root canal, or wisdom teeth that are causing problems. You may also need surgery if gum recession has left tooth roots exposed, or if you want dental implants or other restorative care and require preparatory procedures.

No, oral surgery is not painful. Local anesthesia is used to ensure you don't feel pain during the procedure. Oral sedation is also available if you feel anxious about surgery. It gives you a deep state of calm that makes every procedure feel easier. Our team will provide clear aftercare instructions before you leave. We'll help you manage recovery and any potential discomfort as comfortably as possible.

3-D imaging improves your oral surgery for many reasons. It gives your team a detailed picture of your jaw structure, bone density, and nerve pathways before your procedure. For wisdom tooth extractions, they can see the position of impacted teeth relative to surrounding nerves. For bone grafts and sinus lifts, they can measure bone volume precisely and plan the procedure accordingly. For tooth removals, they approach each extraction with a full understanding of root anatomy. This level of planning produces successful procedures and smoother recoveries.

You should expect a smooth recovery from oral surgery. It's common to have some swelling, soreness, and mild discomfort in the days following your procedure. However, that should improve over the following week. Your team provides detailed aftercare instructions, including what to eat, how to manage discomfort, what to watch for, and when to call if something doesn't seem right. Following those instructions carefully is the most important thing you can do to support a smooth recovery.

If you receive oral sedation for your oral surgery procedure, you will not be able to drive yourself home afterward. Oral sedation affects your alertness and coordination for several hours following your appointment. If you plan to use oral sedation, you'll need to arrange for a trusted adult to drive you to and from your appointment. If you're having a minor surgical procedure without sedation and only local anesthesia is used, driving yourself home is generally fine.

The cost of oral surgery depends on which procedure you need and the complexity of your specific case. Simple tooth removals are among the most straightforward and affordable procedures. More involved surgeries, such as bone grafts, sinus lifts, and gum grafts, vary in cost. At Dental West, our team walks you through the full cost of your recommended procedure during your consultation. There are no surprises.

You typically do not need a referral to get oral surgery at Dental West. Our team performs a full range of oral surgery procedures in-house, including tooth removal, wisdom teeth extractions, bone grafts, sinus lifts, and gum grafts. You can come directly to us without navigating a specialist referral. This means your surgical care stays coordinated within the same practice that manages the rest of your oral health needs.