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Lincoln Park · Oral surgery

Oral surgery & wisdom teeth, Lincoln Park

Wisdom teeth, extractions, and bone grafting done in-house on North Avenue, rated 4.6 stars across 1,600+ Google reviews.

Oral surgery covers the surgical procedures carried out inside the mouth, most commonly wisdom tooth removal, extraction of teeth that cannot be saved, and bone grafting that preserves the jaw for a future implant.

Oral surgery happens in our own operatories at the Lincoln Park office on North Avenue, so the exam that finds the problem, the surgery, and the healing checks are all in one building. Dr. Mustafa Saad focuses on oral surgery here, with advanced training in oral and maxillofacial surgery following his DDS from the UCLA School of Dentistry.

Wisdom teeth, extractions, and what comes after

Wisdom teeth are the most common reason people are sent here, and the honest answer is that not all of them need to come out. A panoramic x-ray shows the angle, the root shape, and how close the nerve runs, which is what actually decides it. Teeth that are upright, fully erupted, and cleanable can often be left alone and watched. Teeth that are impacted, pressing on the neighbor, or sitting where a toothbrush will never reach are the ones worth removing before they cause an infection at an inconvenient moment.

The rest of the work is extractions and the groundwork for what comes next. When a tooth cannot be saved, how it is removed matters for whatever replaces it, so bone grafting at the time of extraction is often the difference between a straightforward implant later and a harder case. Sedation is available in oral and IV form, and it is genuinely a choice: local anesthetic alone is enough for a great many extractions, and we would rather talk it through than default you into sedation you did not need.

One practical note specific to this office. If you choose IV sedation you cannot drive afterwards, so plan a ride. The parking deck on Sheffield just south of North Avenue is the closest option for whoever brings you, and the North/Clybourn Red Line stop is three blocks away, which is what most patients coming from downtown use.

Who it's a good fit for

  • You have wisdom teeth causing pain, pressure, or swelling at the back of the jaw
  • Your dentist told you a tooth cannot be saved and needs to come out
  • You want a second opinion on whether your wisdom teeth need removing at all
  • You want sedation for the appointment and a plan for getting home after
  • You live or work near Lincoln Park and would rather not be referred across the city

What to expect

  1. Consult: panoramic x-ray or 3D scan, and a written estimate before anything is booked
  2. Pre-op: eating instructions, your sedation choice, and a ride arranged if sedated
  3. Surgery: local anesthetic, with oral or IV sedation if that is what you chose
  4. Recovery: swelling peaks around day two, soft diet for most of the first week
  5. Follow-up: a healing check one to two weeks later at the same office

Common questions

Who performs oral surgery at the Lincoln Park office?
Dr. Mustafa Saad. He earned his DDS at the UCLA School of Dentistry and has advanced training in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and he treats patients at both our Lincoln Park and Schaumburg offices. He handles wisdom teeth, surgical extractions, bone grafting, and implant placement.
Do I need a referral for wisdom teeth removal?
No. You can book the consultation directly, and many patients do after being told elsewhere that their wisdom teeth need to come out. If you already have a recent panoramic x-ray, send it over and we can often avoid retaking it.
Can I drive myself home after the procedure?
With local anesthetic only, yes. With oral or IV sedation, no, and this is not negotiable: you need an adult to drive you and, for IV sedation, to stay with you for the first few hours. Use the Sheffield parking deck just south of North Avenue if someone is dropping you off and waiting.
How much time off work or school should I plan for?
For a single straightforward extraction, most people are fine the next day. For impacted wisdom teeth, particularly all four at once, plan on two to three days of taking it easy, with swelling at its worst around the second day. Booking toward the end of the week gives you the weekend as buffer, which is what most of our students and young professionals do.
Is the socket saved for an implant later?
It can be, and if an implant is anywhere in your plan it usually should be. Bone starts to resorb as soon as a tooth is gone, and a graft placed at the time of extraction holds the shape of the site so the implant can be placed cleanly months later. We raise this before surgery rather than after, when the opportunity has passed.
Does insurance cover wisdom teeth removal?
Most dental plans cover surgical extractions at least partially, and some impacted cases are also billable to medical insurance. Coverage for sedation varies considerably between plans. We verify your benefits and give you a written estimate before scheduling, so the number you see is the number you pay.

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