Our Services

From wisdom teeth extractions to implant dentistry, Dr. Hertz and his staff are equipped to handle all of your oral surgery needs. To help you understand more about our office, we've included brief descriptions of some of our most common services on this page.

Implant Placement

Dental implants are a great way to replace missing teeth and also provide a fixed solution to having removable partial or complete dentures. Implants provide excellent support and stability for these dental appliances. Dental implants are metal anchors that act as tooth root substitutes. They are surgically placed into the jawbone. Small posts are attached to the implant to provide stable anchors in the gums for replacement teeth. For most patients, the placement of dental implants involves two surgical procedures. First, implants are placed within your jawbone. Healing time following surgery varies from person to person and is based on a variety of factors. In some cases, implants may be restored immediately after they are placed. For the first three to six months following surgery, the implants rest beneath the surface of the gums and are incorporated into the jawbone. After the implant has incorporated into the jawbone, the second phase begins. Dr. Hertz will uncover the implants and attach a small healing collar. After appropriate healing, your general dentist will be able to restore your missing teeth. The entire procedure usually takes six to eight months. Most patients do not experience any disruption in their daily life.

If, like many others, you feel implant dentistry is the choice for you, we ask that you undergo a dental/radiographic examination and health history. During your consultation visit, we will address your specific needs and considerations. Your questions and concerns are important to us and our team will work with you very closely to help make your procedure a success.

Extractions

When tooth removal is necessary, we can perform simple and surgical extractions using local anesthesia or IV sedation. If you choose, we can also replace the missing teeth with dental implants.

Surgical Extraction of Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth, or third molars, are the last teeth to erupt in your mouth, usually between the ages of 17 and 25. If they are not removed, impacted wisdom teeth can cause infection, damage, disease or crowding of teeth. Dr. Hertz utilizes the latest advances in dentistry and state-of-the-art technology during his surgical procedures that promote rapid healing and minimal post-operative discomfort.  

Bone Grafting

Before dental implant surgery, bone grafting is sometimes necessary to supplement the bone mass of the patient's jaw so that the implants can be anchored firmly. The graft not only replaces missing bone, but also helps your body to regenerate its own bone. This new bone growth strengthens the grafted area by forming a bridge between your existing bone and the graft material. Over time your own newly formed bone will replace much of the grafted material. This gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, and it also gives us a chance to more effectively restore esthetic appearance and functionality.

Sinus Augmentation

When upper teeth are removed, there is often just a thin wall of bone separating the maxillary sinus and the mouth. Dental implants need bone to hold them in place. When the sinus wall is very thin, it is impossible to place dental implants in this bone. There is a solution called a sinus graft or sinus lift graft. During this procedure, Dr. Hertz enters the sinus from where the upper teeth used to be. The sinus membrane is then lifted upward and donor bone is inserted into the floor of the sinus. Keep in mind that the floor of the sinus is the roof of the upper jaw. After several months of healing, the bone becomes part of the patient's jaw and dental implants can be inserted and stabilized in this new sinus bone. The sinus graft makes it possible for many patients to have dental implants when years ago there was no other option other than wearing loose dentures.

Cyst/Abscess Removal

Dental or oral cysts are a fairly common occurrence in the mouth. In addition to cysts that grow along the gum line, this may also grow on the inside of the cheek, the tongue, as well as the floor of the mouth. A cyst is medically defined as a fluid filled sac or pouch, but can also appear as a growth of any kind, including an irregularly shaped patch of skin. Regardless, this should be removed and tested by your dentist or oral surgeon to ensure that growth is benign.

Apicoectomy

An apicoectomy, also called root end resection, is a surgical procedure intended to remove infection from the root tip and the surrounding tissue. It is necessary when an infection and inflammation continues after root canal therapy or endodontic retreatment. During this procedure, an incision is made in the gum tissue to expose the bone and surrounding inflamed tissue. The damaged tissue is removed along with the end of the root tip. A root-end filling is placed to prevent re-infection of the root and the gum is sutured. The bone naturally heals around the root over a period of months, restoring full function. Following the procedure, there may be some discomfort or slight swelling while the incision heals. This is normal for any surgical procedure. To alleviate any discomfort, an appropriate pain medication will be recommended.