Treatment Guides
Oral and Facial Surgery Services: The Complete Guide
Key takeaways
- Oral and facial surgery covers tooth removal, dental implants, jaw surgery, facial trauma repair, sedation, and 3D diagnostic imaging.
- A dental implant replaces the root of a missing tooth with a titanium post, and bone typically needs three to six months to integrate around it.
- Full mouth implant reconstruction rebuilds an entire arch of teeth on a set of implants rather than replacing teeth one at a time.
- IV sedation allows moment-to-moment adjustment during surgery but requires fasting beforehand and a driver home afterward.
- A tooth that can be saved with a root canal and crown is usually better kept than removed and replaced.
Our services page is the single place where every treatment we perform is listed and explained — from wisdom teeth removal and dental implants to facial trauma repair, jaw surgery, sedation options, and diagnostic imaging. If you are brand new to all of this: an oral and facial surgeon is a dental specialist who performs surgery on the teeth, jaws, and face, usually for problems a general dentist refers out.
This guide walks through what those services cover, who each one is meant for, how a typical case moves from first phone call to final follow-up, and what the first visit establishes. We are located at 14830 Los Gatos Boulevard, Suite 200, in Los Gatos, CA, and we also see patients from Cupertino and the surrounding South Bay.
What oral and facial surgery covers
Oral and facial surgery sits between dentistry and medicine. The work involves bone, soft tissue, nerves, and teeth in the mouth and face. Some cases are planned months ahead. Others arrive the same day after an accident.
Our services fall into a few broad groups.
Tooth removal and surgical care
Wisdom teeth removal is the most common surgical procedure we perform. Other extractions include teeth that are broken below the gum line, impacted, or beyond repair. Pre-prosthetic surgery reshapes bone and gum tissue so a denture or bridge can seat properly.
Implants and reconstruction
A dental implant is a small titanium post placed into the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. Once the bone heals around it, a crown, bridge, or denture attaches on top. Full mouth implant reconstruction is the larger version of the same idea: a full arch — or both arches — rebuilt on a set of implants rather than one tooth at a time. Implant supported dentures, Teeth in a Day, and Teeth-In-An-Hour are all variations on how quickly and how permanently that replacement arch is attached. A sinus lift adds bone height in the upper back jaw when there is not enough to hold an implant.
Facial trauma and jaw surgery
Facial trauma care treats broken jaws, cheekbones, eye sockets, and facial lacerations, along with knocked-out or displaced teeth. Orthognathic surgery repositions the upper or lower jaw when the bite does not line up and braces alone cannot correct it. These cases are usually coordinated with an orthodontist over many months.
Sedation
Sedation dentistry is how we keep you comfortable during the procedure. Nitrous oxide is the lightest option, inhaled through a small mask, and it wears off within minutes. Oral conscious sedation is a pill taken before the appointment. IV sedation delivers medication through a vein so the level can be adjusted moment to moment; most patients remember little or nothing of the procedure and need a driver home.
Diagnostics and technology
Cone beam CT (CBCT) produces a three-dimensional scan of the jaws, showing nerve position and bone volume before implant or extraction surgery. Digital X-rays and digital scanning replace film and putty impressions. An intra-oral camera lets us show you on screen exactly what we are describing.
Who these services are for
Most people arrive in one of a few situations:
- A general dentist has referred you for a tooth that cannot be saved or a wisdom tooth that is crowding or impacted.
- You are missing one or more teeth and want a fixed replacement instead of a removable one.
- You wear a denture that moves, and you want it anchored.
- You have facial or dental injury from a fall, sport, or collision.
- Your bite or jaw alignment causes chewing, breathing, or speech difficulty.
- A lesion, growth, or sore in the mouth needs evaluation.
Who these services are not for
Surgery is not the first answer for everything. A tooth with a healthy root and enough structure is usually better treated with a root canal and crown by a general dentist or endodontist than removed. Routine cleanings, fillings, whitening, and most orthodontics belong with your regular dental team.
Implants are also not automatic. Uncontrolled diabetes, active gum disease, heavy smoking, certain bone medications, and some cancer treatments can lower the odds an implant integrates successfully. Growing teenagers usually wait until jaw growth finishes. None of these are permanent disqualifications — several are things we can work around or treat first — but they change the plan, and a consultation is where that gets sorted out honestly.
How treatment works, stage by stage
Stage 1: First contact
You call or your dentist sends a referral. We gather your reason for visiting, your medical history, your medication list, and your insurance details. Urgent cases are triaged ahead of routine ones.
Stage 2: Consultation and imaging
The first visit is an examination and a conversation. We take the imaging the case calls for — often a digital X-ray, and a cone beam scan when implants, impacted teeth, or jaw surgery are involved. Scanning takes under a minute. We review the images with you on screen and explain what we see.
Stage 3: The plan and the estimate
You leave the consultation with a written treatment sequence, a sedation recommendation, and a cost estimate that separates what insurance is expected to cover from what it is not. For simple extractions this is one appointment. For full mouth reconstruction it may be a timeline spanning six months to a year.
Stage 4: Surgery day
You arrive with an empty stomach if sedation is planned, and with a driver if you are having IV sedation. We confirm the plan, place monitors, and begin. A single extraction may take twenty minutes. A full arch of implants takes several hours. You rest in recovery until you are steady, then go home with written instructions, gauze, and any prescriptions.
Stage 5: Healing and follow-up
Soft tissue settles over one to two weeks. Bone integration around an implant takes roughly three to six months, depending on site and grafting. We see you for suture removal and healing checks along the way. Your general dentist or prosthodontist usually places the final crown or bridge once we confirm the implant is stable.
What it costs
Cost depends on how many teeth are involved, whether bone grafting is needed, which sedation you choose, and what your plan covers. Medical insurance sometimes covers facial trauma and jaw surgery even when dental insurance does not, and the two can overlap in confusing ways. We give a written estimate before anything is scheduled, and we break out each line so you can see what drives the number.
Financing and payment options are covered separately, as are the specific cost factors for implants and full mouth reconstruction.
Risks and tradeoffs
Every surgical procedure carries risk, and a guide that skips this part is not useful.
- Swelling and limited jaw opening are normal for several days after extractions or implant placement, and can interfere with work and eating.
- Infection is uncommon but possible, and is the main reason follow-up visits matter.
- Nerve involvement. Lower wisdom teeth and lower implants sit near nerves that supply feeling to the lip and tongue. Numbness is usually temporary when it happens, but it can be lasting. 3D imaging is how we reduce that risk.
- Implant failure. A small percentage of implants do not integrate with bone and must be removed and redone after healing.
- Time. Implant treatment is measured in months, not days. Same-day tooth options shorten the visible wait but not the biological healing.
- Sinus complications in upper back implants, which is why sinus lifts exist.
- Sedation tradeoffs. Deeper sedation means more comfort but more preparation: fasting, a driver, and a slower afternoon.
Bone quality, smoking, and gum health influence long-term results more than most patients expect. We would rather say that plainly before surgery than after.
Alternatives worth considering
Saving the natural tooth. If a root canal and crown can restore a tooth, that is usually the first choice. Natural roots preserve bone in ways no replacement fully matches.
Traditional dentures. A removable full or partial denture costs less up front and requires no surgery. The tradeoffs are movement, bone loss over time, and diet limits.
Implant supported dentures. A middle path: a removable or fixed denture anchored on a small number of implants. More stable than a conventional denture, less involved than a full fixed reconstruction.
Fixed bridges. A bridge fills a gap without surgery, but it requires reshaping the healthy teeth on either side.
Lighter sedation. If IV sedation does not appeal to you, nitrous oxide or oral sedation may be enough for shorter procedures.
How to get started
Bring these to your first appointment:
- Your photo ID and dental and medical insurance cards
- A current list of medications and supplements, including blood thinners and bone medications
- Any referral letter, X-rays, or scans your dentist has already taken
- A list of medical conditions and past surgeries
- Questions written down — they are easy to forget in the chair
Good questions to ask: How many appointments will this take? What happens if the implant does not integrate? Which sedation do you recommend for me, and why? What does the estimate include, and what is billed separately by another office? What does recovery look like for the first three days?
The first appointment establishes a diagnosis, a sequence, a sedation plan, and a written estimate. You are not committed to anything by attending it.
Ready to talk through your options? Schedule a consultation with Los Gatos Oral & Facial Surgery.
Frequently asked questions
What is a dental implant, in simple terms?
A dental implant is a small titanium post placed into the jawbone where a tooth root used to be. Bone grows around it over several months, locking it in place. A crown, bridge, or denture then attaches on top. The result functions much like a natural tooth.
What is full mouth implant reconstruction?
It is the replacement of an entire arch of teeth — or both arches — using a set of dental implants as anchors. Instead of one implant per missing tooth, a smaller number of implants supports a full bridge. It is typically chosen by people who have lost most of their teeth or who wear dentures that no longer fit well.
What is IV sedation and will I be asleep?
IV sedation delivers sedative medication through a vein, so the depth can be adjusted throughout the procedure. Most patients drift into a relaxed state and remember little or nothing afterward, though it is not the same as general anesthesia. You will need to fast beforehand and have someone drive you home.
Where in Los Gatos are you located, and do you see patients from nearby cities?
Our office is at 14830 Los Gatos Boulevard, Suite 200, Los Gatos, CA 95032. Los Gatos is a town in Santa Clara County at the edge of Silicon Valley. We regularly see patients from Cupertino, San Jose, Saratoga, and the surrounding South Bay.
Do I need a referral from my dentist?
A referral is common but not required. Many patients contact us directly, especially for wisdom teeth, implant consultations, or urgent dental problems. If your dentist has already taken X-rays, bringing them can save a step.
How long does recovery take after wisdom teeth removal or an implant?
Most swelling and soft-tissue healing settles within one to two weeks, and many people return to desk work in two to three days. Bone healing around an implant takes longer — usually three to six months before the final crown is placed. We schedule follow-up visits to confirm healing is on track.