Oral Surgery

Coverage for oral surgery varies significantly between different insurance plans and providers. Many medically necessary procedures, such as the extraction of impacted wisdom teeth or biopsies for oral pathology, are often covered at least in part by dental insurance plans. Cosmetic procedures are typically not covered.

Our knowledgeable team in Hackettstown, NJ, is here to help you maximize your benefits. We will gladly submit a pre-treatment estimate to your insurance company to clarify your coverage. We also offer flexible financing options to ensure you can receive the essential care you need without financial stress.

Proper preparation is key to a smooth procedure and recovery. We will provide you with specific instructions, which may include fasting from food and drink for several hours beforehand. It is also important to inform us of all medications you are currently taking.

We recommend wearing loose, comfortable clothing to your appointment. Most importantly, you must arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home and assist you for the first few hours after your surgery, as the effects of anesthesia will impair your ability to drive safely and perform other tasks.

The time needed for recovery varies depending on the complexity of your oral surgery. For a simple extraction, many patients feel comfortable returning to their normal routine within a day or two. We recommend taking it easy and avoiding strenuous activity for at least the first 24 hours.

For more involved procedures, such as the removal of impacted wisdom teeth or the placement of multiple dental implants, we advise planning for 3 to 5 days of rest. This allows your body adequate time to heal and for any initial swelling or discomfort to subside before you resume your daily activities.

Your comfort is our top priority. We offer several sedation options to eliminate anxiety and ensure a pain-free experience. For mild anxiety, nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas,” provides a state of deep relaxation while you remain conscious. Its effects wear off quickly after the procedure is complete.

A bone graft is a surgical procedure used to rebuild or augment bone in an area of your jaw that has insufficient bone volume. This is often necessary after tooth loss, severe gum disease, or trauma, which can cause the jawbone to deteriorate over time, creating a weakened foundation.

This procedure is essential for patients who wish to receive dental implants but lack the necessary bone density to support them. By restoring the jaw’s structure, a bone graft creates a stable and durable base for successful implant placement, ensuring the long-term health and function of your smile.

A dry socket is a common complication after a tooth extraction where the protective blood clot in the empty socket dislodges prematurely. This exposes the underlying bone and nerves, causing significant pain and delaying healing. It is a temporary but uncomfortable condition that requires professional attention.

To prevent a dry socket, it is vital to follow our post-operative instructions carefully. This includes avoiding smoking, not using straws for at least a week, and refraining from vigorous rinsing or spitting. Gentle oral hygiene and a soft food diet are key to protecting the healing site.

A simple extraction is performed on a tooth that is fully visible above the gumline and can be removed easily with forceps. This procedure is typically straightforward and involves gently loosening the tooth from its socket. Our team ensures the area is completely numb, making the process comfortable for you.

A surgical extraction is more complex and is required when a tooth has not fully erupted or has broken off at the gumline. This may involve making a small incision in the gum tissue to access and remove the tooth. Dr. K. utilizes advanced imaging to plan these procedures with ultimate precision.

For the first 24-48 hours, you should stick to a diet of liquids and very soft foods to avoid irritating the surgical site. Excellent choices include smoothies (without a straw), yogurt, applesauce, lukewarm soups, and protein shakes. Proper nutrition is essential for helping your body heal effectively.

As you begin to feel more comfortable, you can gradually introduce semi-soft foods like scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, and pasta. It is crucial to avoid hard, crunchy, spicy, or very hot foods for at least a week to prevent complications and ensure a smooth, comfortable recovery.

An oral biopsy is a safe and straightforward diagnostic procedure performed to investigate a suspicious lesion, sore, or growth in your mouth. Dr. K. will first numb the area completely with local anesthetic to ensure you feel no discomfort during the process, prioritizing your comfort at all times.

A small sample of the tissue is then carefully removed and sent to a specialized laboratory for pathological analysis. The results help us achieve a definitive diagnosis and create an effective treatment plan if one is needed. The entire in-office procedure is typically very quick and efficient.

Wisdom teeth, or third molars, often require removal because they can cause significant oral health problems. Many people lack sufficient space in their jaw for these teeth to erupt properly, leading them to become impacted. This means they are trapped beneath the gums or grow in at an improper angle.

Impacted wisdom teeth can lead to pain, infection, cysts, and damage to adjacent teeth and roots. Removing them is often a crucial preventative measure to protect your long-term oral health. Dr. K. will perform a thorough evaluation with CT scans to determine if extraction is your best option.