Oral & maxillofacial surgery

Because human jaws are often too small to accommodate 32 teeth, third molars frequently emerge partially or remain completely impacted under the gum and bone. This leads to chronic bacterial infections, damage to adjacent molar roots, cyst formation, and bite crowding. Proactively removing them in late adolescence or early adulthood prevents complex complications later.

We provide a full spectrum of comfortable sedation options: gentle local numbing, inhaled nitrous oxide (laughing gas), oral conscious sedation, and intravenous (IV) sedation. With deeper sedation options, you can relax in a peaceful, sleep-like state, feel no discomfort, and awaken with little to no memory of the surgery.

Most patients return to school or desk work within 2 to 4 days. Soft tissues generally heal within 1 to 2 weeks, while the underlying bone completely fills in over several months. Following our clear post-operative care instructions—such as avoiding drinking through straws, smoking, and vigorous rinsing—ensures rapid, complication-free healing.

When a tooth is removed, the surrounding socket bone quickly loses approximately 40% to 60% of its volume within the first year due to lack of stimulation. Placing a socket preservation bone graft immediately upon extraction preserves jaw width and height, keeping your jawbone ready for future dental implant placement.

For the first few days, eat soft, nourishing foods such as yogurt, smoothies (eaten with a spoon, not a straw), scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, and lukewarm soups. Avoid hard, crunchy, spicy, or hot foods, and never use a drinking straw, as suction can dislodge the protective blood clot and cause a dry socket.