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In some situations, it becomes necessary to perform oral surgery to address complex conditions affecting your smile that cannot be resolved through standard dental treatments alone. From wisdom teeth removal to dental implant placement, our team can perform numerous surgical procedures in-house using the latest advanced technology and proven techniques that prioritize your comfort and successful outcomes. Understanding when oral surgery might benefit you and what to expect during the process helps you make informed decisions about your dental health.
At the Center for Advanced Dentistry, Dr. Steve Lim provides comprehensive oral surgery services in San Jose, CA, combining over 25 years of experience with state-of-the-art surgical techniques. To learn more about our available oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures, how to heal faster after surgery, and which treatments might benefit your specific situation, contact our team today for a personalized consultation.
Oral surgery encompasses various surgical procedures that address conditions affecting the mouth, teeth, gums, jaw, and surrounding facial structures beyond what routine dental care can resolve. While preventive dentistry and restorative treatments can address many dental issues, certain situations require surgical intervention to achieve optimal results and prevent further complications. Recognizing when oral surgery might be necessary allows you to seek timely treatment before conditions worsen or cause additional problems.
Common indicators signaling the need for oral surgery include severe tooth damage that cannot be saved with root canal therapy or other restorative treatments, impacted wisdom teeth causing pain, infection, or crowding of adjacent teeth, jawbone deterioration that compromises dental stability and affects your ability to support restorations, or persistent oral infections that resist standard antibiotic and non-surgical treatments. These conditions often progress if left untreated, potentially leading to more complex health issues.
Additionally, patients seeking long-term tooth replacement solutions will require surgical placement of dental implants, which involves placing titanium posts into the jawbone to serve as artificial tooth roots. Corrective jaw surgery may be necessary for patients with bite alignment issues, jaw joint disorders, or facial asymmetries affecting function and aesthetics. Early consultation with our dental team can help determine if your condition would benefit from surgical intervention and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Discover if dental implants are right for you with our complimentary consultation and personalized treatment planning.
At the Center for Advanced Dentistry, we provide a full range of surgical procedures to address diverse dental conditions affecting your oral health and quality of life. Our comprehensive approach ensures you receive the specific treatment needed to restore function, eliminate pain, and improve aesthetics. Dr. Lim’s extensive training and decades of experience enable him to handle everything from routine extractions to complex reconstructive procedures.
We offer numerous oral surgery services to address various dental concerns with precision and care. Tooth extractions, including complex wisdom teeth removal, help eliminate pain, prevent infection, and avoid damage to adjacent teeth. For patients seeking to replace missing teeth, we provide complete dental implant experiences from initial placement through final restoration, all performed in one convenient San Jose location by Dr. Lim.
Bone grafting procedures help rebuild lost jawbone tissue, creating a stable foundation for dental implants or improving denture fit and facial contours. We also perform corrective jaw surgery to address structural abnormalities that affect bite alignment, jaw function, facial symmetry, and overall oral health. Each procedure is carefully planned using advanced imaging technology to ensure precision and predictable outcomes.
A frenulum is a fold of skin or mucous membrane tissue connecting two body parts within your mouth. One frenulum connects your upper lip to the gum tissue, while another attaches your tongue to the floor of your mouth. Frenectomy procedures surgically remove or modify restrictive frenulum tissue that prevents the lip or tongue from moving properly, causing speech difficulties, feeding problems in infants, or orthodontic complications.
Lip and tongue tie releases can dramatically improve quality of life for patients experiencing restricted movement, particularly children whose development may be affected by these anatomical limitations. The procedure is typically quick and minimally invasive, often performed with our soft tissue laser for enhanced comfort and faster healing. Many patients experience immediate improvement in function following frenectomy treatment.
To strengthen weaker areas of the jaw and provide adequate support for dental implants, bone grafting may be recommended as part of your comprehensive treatment plan. The graft material can come from your own body, processed donor tissue, or synthetic bone substitutes, each option offering specific advantages depending on your situation. The selected graft material is surgically placed into areas of bone loss, where it serves as a scaffold for new bone growth.
Over time, the graft material integrates with your surrounding bone through a natural healing process, providing enhanced support for dental implants or improving the foundation for dentures. Bone grafting procedures have become increasingly predictable with advanced techniques and materials, offering excellent success rates for patients requiring jawbone augmentation. Dr. Lim’s expertise in bone grafting ensures optimal outcomes for even complex cases involving significant bone loss.
Wisdom tooth extraction is a common surgical procedure that removes one or more third molars from your mouth when they cause problems or pose future risks to your oral health. When wisdom teeth become impacted, they remain stuck beneath your gum tissue or within your jawbone, unable to erupt properly into functional positions. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause significant pain, infection, damage to adjacent teeth, and crowding as they attempt to emerge.
Many dentists recommend removing problematic wisdom teeth before complications develop, often during the late teenage years or early twenties when healing occurs most efficiently. The surgical procedure involves carefully accessing the impacted tooth, which may require removing some bone tissue or sectioning the tooth for easier removal. Our advanced surgical techniques and sedation options ensure patient comfort throughout the procedure while minimizing post-operative discomfort and recovery time.
Dentists generally recommend dental implants for patients who have experienced tooth loss and want the most natural, long-lasting replacement option available. Dental implants help restore your smile’s shape, function, and aesthetics following tooth loss, providing stability that prevents bone loss and maintains your facial structure. The implant process involves multiple phases, beginning with surgical placement and concluding with attachment of your custom restoration.
The titanium implant post is surgically placed into your jawbone at precisely planned positions determined through advanced 3D imaging and computer-guided planning. After placement, the implant is allowed to heal for several months while it bonds with your jawbone through a process called osseointegration. This biological integration creates a secure, permanent foundation that functions like a natural tooth root, supporting restorations that can last a lifetime with proper care.
Dr. Lim’s board-certified training and extensive experience with dental implant surgery ensure optimal placement for both function and aesthetics. Our oral surgery office utilizes the latest surgical techniques and technology to provide exceptional dental implant experiences with predictable success rates and minimal complications.
When a tooth cannot be saved through restorative dental treatment like root canal therapy or crown placement, extraction may be necessary to prevent infection spread and preserve surrounding oral health. Tooth extraction is an oral surgery procedure where we use local anesthetic to completely numb the area around the affected tooth, ensuring your comfort throughout the process. The tooth is carefully gripped with specialized dental forceps and gently removed from its socket in the jawbone.
Simple extractions involve teeth that are visible and accessible, while surgical extractions address teeth that have broken below the gum line or remain impacted beneath tissue. Our minimally invasive extraction techniques preserve as much surrounding bone and tissue as possible, facilitating easier healing and better outcomes if you later choose to replace the tooth with an implant. We provide detailed post-operative instructions to promote optimal healing and minimize discomfort during recovery.
We understand that anxiety about pain or discomfort may cause patients to delay necessary oral surgery, potentially allowing conditions to worsen. At Center for Advanced Dentistry, patient comfort remains our absolute priority throughout every surgical procedure we perform. Our team takes time to address your concerns, explain what to expect, and customize your comfort options based on your anxiety level and the complexity of your treatment.
Our practice offers multiple sedation options carefully tailored to your individual needs and the specific procedure being performed. For minor surgical procedures, local anesthesia combined with nitrous oxide (laughing gas) provides sufficient comfort while allowing you to remain conscious, responsive, and able to communicate with our team throughout treatment.
For more extensive procedures or patients with higher anxiety levels, we offer IV sedation administered by our qualified, sedation-certified team. This deeper level of sedation induces profound relaxation where you remain technically conscious but experience limited awareness and typically have little to no memory of the procedure. Our team continuously monitors your vital signs throughout treatment, ensuring your safety while providing a comfortable, stress-free surgical experience that makes even complex procedures manageable.
Oral and maxillofacial surgery represents a specialized field requiring extensive training beyond dental school, encompassing surgical treatment of conditions affecting the mouth, jaws, face, and neck. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon possesses expertise ranging from routine tooth extractions to complex reconstructive procedures involving bone, soft tissue, and facial structures. This comprehensive training enables treatment of traumatic injuries, congenital defects, pathological conditions, and functional disorders.
Board-certified oral surgeons complete additional years of hospital-based surgical training after dental school, gaining expertise in anesthesia administration, complex surgical techniques, and management of medical complications. This advanced preparation ensures the highest level of surgical competency and patient safety. Dr. Lim’s extensive training and decades of experience provide our San Jose patients with access to this specialized expertise without requiring referral to outside specialists.
The scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery continues to expand with technological advances and refined surgical techniques that improve outcomes and reduce recovery times. Modern oral surgery offices like ours combine traditional surgical skills with digital planning, guided surgery, and regenerative therapies to deliver exceptional results. This integration of proven techniques with innovative technology represents the future of surgical dentistry.
Successful outcomes from oral surgery depend not only on expert surgical technique but also on proper post-operative care and following recovery instructions carefully. After your procedure, we provide detailed written instructions covering pain management, activity restrictions, dietary guidelines, and signs of potential complications requiring immediate attention. Most patients experience manageable discomfort controlled effectively with prescribed or over-the-counter pain medications.
Swelling typically peaks 48-72 hours after surgery before gradually subsiding, and can be minimized through cold compress application and keeping your head elevated. Maintaining good oral hygiene while avoiding the surgical site helps prevent infection and promotes healing. Most patients can return to normal activities within a few days for simple procedures, while more complex surgeries may require longer recovery periods.
We schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your healing progress, remove sutures if necessary, and address any concerns during your recovery. Our team remains available to answer questions and provide guidance throughout your healing process, ensuring you feel supported from initial consultation through complete recovery. Proper post-operative care significantly influences your final outcome and helps prevent complications.
Recovery time varies significantly depending on the specific procedure and individual healing factors. Simple tooth extractions may require only a few days of limited activity, while wisdom teeth removal typically needs one week of modified routine. Dental implant surgery requires several months for complete osseointegration, though most patients resume normal activities within days of placement. Bone grafting and corrective jaw surgery may involve longer recovery periods with specific activity restrictions.
Modern anesthesia and sedation techniques ensure you feel no pain during your procedure. Post-operative discomfort varies by procedure complexity but is typically well-managed with prescribed pain medications and proper care. Most patients report that actual post-surgical discomfort is less than they anticipated. We provide detailed pain management instructions and remain available to address any concerns during your recovery period.
Bone grafting becomes necessary when insufficient jawbone volume exists to support and stabilize dental implants properly. Our 3D imaging technology allows precise measurement of your bone dimensions, density, and quality before recommending treatment. Factors indicating potential need for bone grafting include long-term tooth loss, periodontal disease history, facial trauma, or naturally thin jawbone anatomy. Dr. Lim evaluates each case individually to determine if grafting is needed for optimal implant success.
Look for a doctor who completed accredited oral surgery training beyond dental school, ideally with board certification demonstrating advanced competency. Verify completion of a hospital-based residency program, experience with the specific procedure you need, and privileges to perform surgery in accredited facilities. Dr. Lim’s board-certified status and decades of surgical experience provide assurance of the highest level of training and expertise in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Many dental insurance plans provide coverage for medically necessary oral surgery like extractions, treatment of infections, or jaw surgery addressing functional problems. Coverage for dental implants varies by plan, though some policies include partial benefits. Our office works with many dental insurance providers and can verify your coverage, help maximize your benefits, and discuss payment options for any remaining balance to make necessary treatment accessible.
Taking the first step toward resolving complex dental issues through oral surgery can transform your oral health and overall quality of life. Whether you’re experiencing pain from impacted wisdom teeth or seeking to replace missing teeth with dental implants, our team at Center for Advanced Dentistry has the expertise and technology to deliver exceptional results.
As a board-certified specialist, Dr. Lim brings decades of surgical experience to every procedure performed at our state-of-the-art facility. Our dental insurance-friendly practice combines sedation dentistry with advanced surgical techniques to ensure your comfort throughout treatment. Call us at 408-292-2848 to schedule a consultation for oral surgery in San Jose or learn more about our available procedures.
Our office is strategically positioned in San Jose, CA, along North Bascom Avenue, offering easy connectivity to major transportation routes and centrally accessible from neighboring communities. The suite is housed within a professional complex with convenient parking options and straightforward building navigation for visitors.
