Oral Surgery in Southfield, MI

The phrase “oral surgery” can stir up more than just nerves—it often brings a wave of hesitation, maybe even fear. But you’re not alone! Studies show that nearly 80% of adults feel anxious about dental procedures, and oral surgery tends to heighten those feelings. But here’s the truth: those emotions are normal. They don’t make you weak—they make you human.

The compassionate staff at Aesthetic Dental understands how vulnerable it can feel to sit in the dental chair. Fortunately, we approach oral surgery not just as a clinical necessity but as a meaningful step forward. While it might not be something to be excited about, it is something that opens the door to long-term health, comfort, and confidence in your smile! And that’s what we focus on: the outcome, the healing, and the better quality of life that comes with it.

What Is Considered “Oral Surgery”?

Oral surgery refers to any surgical procedure involving the mouth, jaw, or surrounding structures. These procedures treat infections, relieve pain, restore function, or prepare the mouth for future dental treatments. We may recommend one of the following common forms of oral surgery, depending on your needs:

Tooth Extraction

Oral Surgery in Southfield, MI | Schedule a Free ConsultationWhen a tooth causes pain, infection, or threatens surrounding teeth, we may recommend removing it. Tooth extractions often become necessary in cases of severe decay, advanced gum disease, or impacted wisdom teeth. By removing the problem tooth, we help prevent the spread of infection and protect the rest of your smile.

However, it’s important to note that we will refer you to a specialist for impacted wisdom teeth.

Additionally, after an extraction, we can use innovative L-PRF technology to help facilitate faster healing. By taking a small sample of your blood and placing it in a centrifuge machine, we’re able to separate your body’s natural healing agents into a membrane. When applied to your extraction site, this membrane helps speed up the healing process and reduces your overall discomfort!

Bone Grafting

When teeth go missing, the bone beneath them begins to shrink. This bone resorption occurs because the jawbone no longer receives the stimulation it needs from everyday chewing. Without that stimulation, the body naturally starts to break down and absorb the unused bone.

Over time, this deterioration weakens the foundation of your smile and may limit your ability to receive certain restorative treatments—especially dental implants, which rely on healthy bone for support.

Fortunately, Aesthetic Dental places bone grafting material in the affected area to rebuild lost bone. We may use material from your own body, a donor, or a synthetic substitute to encourage natural bone regeneration. This process restores strength to the jaw, making future treatments possible while protecting your facial structure and oral function.

Dental Implant Placement

When you’re missing teeth, dental implants provide a long-lasting and reliable way to restore your smile. We use these titanium screws to support crowns, bridges, or dentures, giving you the look and function of natural teeth. At Aesthetic Dental, we utilize two types of dental implants.

Traditional implants involve two separate parts: the post, which we place in the jawbone, and the abutment, which connects the post to the replacement tooth. This extra step adds complexity and usually requires more healing time between stages.

In contrast, mini dental implants combine the post and abutment into a single titanium unit. This design eliminates the need for additional hardware and shortens the treatment timeline. We place these implants by creating a small pilot hole in the gum and gently threading the implant into the bone. No large incisions are necessary, often speeding up the healing process.

The compact size of mini implants makes them ideal for areas with limited space or lower bone density—especially in the front of the mouth. Many patients also benefit from quicker recovery times and the ability to receive their restoration the same day as placement.

The Benefits of Oral Surgery: Protecting Your Smile

Oral surgery isn’t just a response to a problem—it’s a proactive step toward long-term oral health. These procedures address the underlying issues that compromise your ability to chew, speak, and maintain a healthy mouth. Whether we’re removing a failing tooth, restoring bone, or placing a dental implant, the goal is always the same: to restore stability, prevent disease, and support lasting function.

A tooth that remains infected or unstable can lead to chronic inflammation, bone loss, and damage to adjacent teeth. Removing it through surgical extraction stops that progression and protects the rest of your smile. Bone grafting plays a similar role by strengthening weakened areas of the jaw, making it possible to receive future restorations like implants, and preventing further structural deterioration.

Dental implants offer perhaps the most transformative benefit. By replacing missing teeth at the root level, they preserve the integrity of the jawbone, maintain facial structure, and restore full chewing function. This level of stability has a direct impact on your diet, digestion, speech, and overall comfort.

Each of these procedures contributes to long-term wellness, not just short-term relief. Patients often find that restoring function and eliminating pain improves their energy, confidence, and overall quality of life. By addressing problems at their source, oral surgery supports both your immediate comfort and your future health.

Rebuild Your Health and Confidence With Oral Surgery

If you’re facing tooth pain, dealing with missing teeth, or simply feeling unsure about the next step in your dental care, know that you’re not alone—and you’re not without options. Oral surgery may initially sound intimidating, but with the right guidance, it becomes a powerful tool for healing, rebuilding, and moving forward confidently. Schedule a free consultation at Aesthetic Dental and discover what’s possible for your smile!

Frequently Asked Questions

Not exactly. Aesthetic Dental offers oral conscious sedation and nitrous oxide, which helps you feel deeply relaxed during oral surgery—but it doesn’t put you fully to sleep.

For oral conscious sedation, you’ll take a prescribed sedative pill before your procedure. The medication eases anxiety, promotes calmness, and may make you feel drowsy, but you’ll remain awake and able to respond to instructions throughout the appointment. Many patients feel so relaxed that they remember very little about the procedure afterward.

With nitrous oxide, you’ll inhale “laughing gas” through a mouth or nosepiece. This immediately lowers your anxiety, helping you feel calm throughout the procedure. Then, once we’re done, you’ll inhale oxygen to flush the gas out of your system, completely reversing its effects!

These sedation options are a safe and effective option for those who feel nervous about oral surgery and want a more comfortable experience without general anesthesia.

Removing a tooth will usually stop the pain caused by infection, damage, or pressure around that specific tooth. However, it’s normal to feel some discomfort during the healing process.

Right after the extraction, your mouth will still be numb from the local anesthesia. As the numbness wears off, some soreness or mild pain is expected. We typically recommend using over-the-counter pain relievers to help manage this post-extraction discomfort, along with simple aftercare instructions to support healing.

Following the post-op instructions we provide is the best way to minimize pain, avoid complications, and ensure a smooth recovery. While tenderness may last for a few days, removing the tooth resolves the root cause of the pain and helps restore your oral health.

At Aesthetic Dental, we believe that patients should be able to afford their dental care, even when on a budget. We work with your insurance company to maximize your benefits.

Additionally, if you have out-of-pocket expenses, we work with third-party financing companies that split your costs into manageable monthly payments! With these flexible financing options, caring for your smile has never been more affordable.