Oral Surgery in New Jersey: Tooth Extraction, Wisdom Teeth Removal, and Bone Grafting
NÜVA Smile’s general dentists and our oral and maxillofacial surgeon provide tooth extractions, wisdom teeth removal, socket preservation, bone grafting, and sinus lifts across New Jersey. Every procedure starts with local anesthesia and a clear cost estimate, and same-day emergency extractions are available. NJ FamilyCare: Most dental plans and medical insurance are accepted.
What oral surgery services does NÜVA Smile offer?
Our dentists handle simple and complex extractions in-house, and Dr. George Sandau, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, treats complex cases at our Westmont office. The services below cover removing a tooth, protecting the bone afterward, and preparing the jaw for a dental implant, with costs explained before treatment.
Simple tooth extraction
Removal of a tooth that is fully visible above the gum, with local anesthesia.
Surgical extraction
For teeth broken at the gumline, heavily decayed, or not fully erupted, the tooth may be removed in sections.
Wisdom teeth removal
Evaluation and removal of impacted or problem wisdom teeth, planned from X-rays.
Socket preservation
Graft material placed in the empty socket at the time of extraction to limit bone loss before an implant.
Bone grafting
Rebuilds jawbone that has thinned after tooth loss so an implant has a stable base.
Sinus lift
Adds bone under the sinus floor in the upper back jaw when there is too little height for an implant.
Same-day emergency extraction
Daily emergency slots for severe toothache, broken teeth, and infection.
Implants after extraction
Replace the removed tooth with an implant, bridge, or denture, planned and placed in-house.
Which tooth extractions need an oral surgeon?
Not every extraction needs an oral surgeon. A visible, intact tooth is usually a simple extraction by a general dentist. Teeth that are impacted, broken at the gumline, close to a nerve or sinus, or in patients with complex medical histories may need a surgical approach or an oral surgeon.
| Situation | What’s usually involved | Typically handled by |
|---|---|---|
| Tooth fully visible and intact | Simple extraction under local anesthesia | General dentist |
| Tooth broken at the gumline or heavily decayed | Surgical extraction: small gum incision; tooth may be sectioned | General dentist or oral surgeon, depending on access |
| Fully erupted wisdom tooth | Often a simple extraction | General dentist |
| Partially or fully impacted wisdom tooth | Surgical removal through gum and sometimes bone | Oral surgeon or experienced general dentist, based on X-rays |
| Roots close to a nerve or the sinus | Detailed imaging and careful surgical planning | Oral surgeons usually recommended |
| Blood thinners, bone-strengthening medications, or other complex medical history | Coordination with your physician and extra precautions | Assessed case by case; often an oral surgeon |
| Extraction ahead of a dental implant | Extraction plus socket preservation or a bone graft | General dentist or oral surgeon |
Your dentist at NÜVA Smile decides after an exam and X-rays. If your case is best handled by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, we will tell you before anything is scheduled.
When should wisdom teeth be removed?
Wisdom teeth usually come in between ages 17 and 25, and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons recommends having them evaluated by young adulthood. Removal is easier when patients are younger, because the roots are not yet fully formed. Healthy, fully erupted wisdom teeth may stay with monitoring.
Keeping a wisdom tooth is reasonable when it is fully erupted, painless, free of decay and easy to clean. It still needs regular checkups and X-rays.
Wisdom teeth by age
- Teens: routine X-rays at checkups show whether wisdom teeth are developing and whether there is room for them.
- Ages 17 to 25: the usual window for wisdom teeth to come in, and the time AAOMS recommends an evaluation.
- Late teens and early 20s: roots are often not fully formed, so removal is usually simpler and healing quicker.
- Mid-20s and older: roots are fully formed, and removal can be more complex; recovery tends to take longer with age.
- Any age: pain, swelling, repeated gum infection, decay, or damage to the neighboring tooth are reasons to be seen promptly.
What happens during oral surgery at NÜVA Smile?
Oral surgery at NÜVA Smile follows six steps. We check your benefits when you book, examine the tooth with X-rays, and explain your options, sedation choices and cost before scheduling. On the day, the area is fully numbed, and you go home with written aftercare instructions and a follow-up plan.
Book and check benefits.
Call your nearest office or request a consultation online. Give us your plan name, member ID and date of birth, and we check dental and medical benefits free of charge.
Exam and X-rays.
The dentist examines the tooth and surrounding area with digital or panoramic X-rays to see the roots, bone and nearby structures.
Plan, sedation and cost.
You hear whether the tooth can be saved, what the extraction involves, which comfort options apply, and the expected cost before anything is scheduled.
The procedure.
The area is fully numbed first. You may feel pressure but should not feel sharp pain. Some teeth come out in one piece; others are removed in sections.
Aftercare.
Gauze is placed to control bleeding, stitches are usually dissolvable, and you leave with written instructions and a number to call.
Follow-up and replacement.
We check healing and plan any replacement, such as an implant, bridge or denture, once you are ready.
What sedation options are available for oral surgery?
Every extraction starts with local anesthesia, which numbs the area so you feel pressure rather than pain. Depending on the procedure, your anxiety level, and the office, additional options may include nitrous oxide, oral sedation, IV sedation or general anesthesia. We confirm which options apply at the consultation.
In New Jersey, a dentist must hold a State Board of Dentistry permit to provide IV sedation or general anesthesia, and the permit applies to each practice location. Ask which options are offered at your office, and who will provide them, when you book.
- Local anesthesia: numbs the tooth and gum. You stay fully awake. Used for every extraction.
- Nitrous oxide: a gas breathed through a small mask that takes the edge off anxiety and wears off quickly.
- Oral sedation: a prescribed medication taken before the visit; you stay awake but relaxed and need someone to drive you home.
- IV sedation: medication given through a vein for deeper relaxation, with continuous monitoring; you need a driver.
- General anesthesia: you are fully asleep. Used for more complex surgery or when other options are not suitable.
How much does oral surgery cost, and does insurance cover it?
Cost depends on the type of extraction, the number of teeth, any bone grafting, and the sedation used, so we give you a written estimate after your exam. We check dental benefits for free, bill medical insurance when treatment qualifies, accept NJ FamilyCare, and offer financing for remaining costs.
Dental insurance: most plans cover extractions; we accept Delta Dental, Aetna, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian, United Concordia, and Horizon BCBSNJ, among others.
Medical insurance: we bill medical insurance for oral surgery that qualifies, which can lower what you pay. Bring both cards.
NJ FamilyCare / Medicaid: extractions and oral surgery are covered for children and adults when a tooth cannot be saved. We submit any prior authorization for you.
Bone grafts and sinus lifts: coverage varies by plan, especially when they are part of implant treatment, so we check before scheduling.
No insurance: the NÜVA Solutions Membership Club, plus financing through CareCredit, Alphaeon, Proceed Finance, and Sunbit for patients who qualify.
Most dental plans reset on January 1. If you are planning wisdom teeth removal or an extraction with a graft, booking before December 31 can use this year’s remaining benefits.
Can I get an emergency tooth extraction the same day?
Yes. We reserve same-day emergency slots every day for severe toothache, broken teeth, and dental infections, and many cases are treated in one visit. Call your nearest office. Go to the ER first for facial swelling with fever, trouble breathing or swallowing, or a suspected jaw fracture.
Walk-ins are welcome, but calling ahead lets us prepare for you. A dental abscess is drained, and its source treated by root canal or extraction. Antibiotics alone do not fix an infected tooth; without treatment of the tooth, the infection comes back. Our 24/7 phone line takes calls when offices are closed. See our emergency dentistry page for what to do before you arrive.
Why choose NÜVA Smile for oral surgery in New Jersey?
Patients choose NÜVA Smile because extractions, bone grafting, and implants happen under one roof, close to home. We have 25 New Jersey offices, an NJ-permitted oral and maxillofacial surgeon for complex cases, same-day emergency slots, and billing to both dental and medical insurance when treatment qualifies.
- Close to home: 25 offices across North, Central, and South Jersey.
- A surgeon when you need one: Dr. George Sandau, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, NJ Specialty Permit #05852, treats complex cases at our Westmont office.
- One plan, start to finish: extraction, socket preservation, bone grafting, and implants planned together, without bouncing between practices.
- Insurance handled: a free benefits check, claims filed for you, and medical insurance billed when treatment qualifies.
- Help the same day: emergency slots reserved daily and a 24/7 phone line.
- No surprises: the expected cost before anything is scheduled, explained in English, Spanish, and several other languages.
Where can I find an oral surgeon or extraction dentist near me in NJ?
NÜVA Smile has 25 offices across North, Central, and South Jersey, so an oral surgery consultation is a short drive away. Many offices open at 8:00 AM and offer Saturday hours. Complex cases that need an oral and maxillofacial surgeon are seen by Dr. George Sandau at our Westmont office.
Bergen & Passaic counties
12 officesHudson, Essex & Union counties
5 officesMiddlesex, Monmouth & Mercer counties
6 offices¿Prefiere atención en español? Le explicamos su cirugía, las opciones de sedación y los costos en español.
Oral surgery and tooth extraction FAQs
Does a tooth extraction hurt?
The area is fully numbed with local anesthetic before we start, so most patients feel pressure rather than sharp pain. Soreness afterward is normal and usually eases within a few days. Pain relief taken exactly as directed and a cold compress on the first day help most people.
Can I get a tooth pulled the same day?
Often, yes. NÜVA Smile reserves same-day emergency slots every day for severe toothache, broken teeth and infection, and many extractions are completed in that visit. Call your nearest office first so we can prepare. Complex surgical cases may need a separate planned appointment.
Do I need an oral surgeon to remove my wisdom teeth?
Not always. Fully erupted wisdom teeth are often removed by a general dentist. Impacted teeth, or roots close to a nerve or the sinus, may call for an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Your X-rays decide, and we explain the recommendation before scheduling.
Is it better to remove wisdom teeth when you're young?
Generally, yes, if they need to come out. AAOMS notes removal is easier in younger patients because the roots are not fully formed, and recovery tends to take longer with age. Healthy, fully erupted wisdom teeth that are easy to clean can stay with monitoring.
What can I eat after a tooth extraction?
Stick to soft, cool foods for the first few days, such as yogurt, smoothies eaten with a spoon, eggs, soup that has cooled, and mashed potatoes. Chew on the other side, avoid crunchy or spicy food, and skip straws so the healing blood clot stays in place.
When can I smoke or vape after an extraction?
Avoid smoking and vaping for at least 72 hours, and longer if you can. The suction and chemicals can dislodge the blood clot and raise the risk of dry socket, a painful complication that usually appears three to five days after surgery.
Does insurance cover tooth extraction and wisdom teeth removal?
Most dental plans cover extractions, and NÜVA Smile bills medical insurance when oral surgery qualifies. NJ FamilyCare covers extractions and oral surgery when a tooth cannot be saved. We run a free benefits check and give you the expected cost before anything is scheduled.
What are my options after a tooth is removed?
A missing tooth can be replaced with a dental implant, a bridge or a denture. If an implant is likely, socket preservation at the time of extraction helps keep the bone. NÜVA Smile plans and places implants in-house once the area has healed.
Who performs oral surgery at NÜVA Smile, and where does this information come from?
The surgery is performed by NÜVA Smile. This page gives general information from national guidance and does not replace an exam by a dentist.
Book a consultation at the office nearest you. We check your benefits first and give you the cost before any treatment is scheduled.
