Donald Ashburn, DDS in Oklahoma City: Oral Surgery with Referral-Based Scheduling

Donald Ashburn, DDS is a solo oral surgery practice in Oklahoma City that performs tooth extractions, dental implant placement, and bone grafting referrals from other dental offices rather than accepting walk-in patients. The practice accepts most insurance plans and operates on a referral model common to surgical dentistry in the metro area, meaning you will see him only when your general dentist or specialist sends you for a specific procedure.

What Ashburn's practice actually is

Oral surgeons differ from general dentists by holding the DDS degree plus additional 4-6 years of specialized surgical residency training. Ashburn performs procedures that exceed the scope of a typical dental office: extracting teeth (especially wisdom teeth), placing dental implants into bone, and managing complex extractions with bone damage or impaction. He does not function as a primary dentist. You will visit him on referral from your family dentist or periodontist for a single procedure, then return to your regular dentist for follow-up care and restoration (such as crowns over implants). This division of labor means his appointment availability and urgency depend on your referring dentist's scheduling and your need priority.

Procedures and sedation options

Ashburn offers IV sedation and local anesthesia for procedures; the choice affects both cost and recovery. Patients under local anesthesia alone typically spend 15 to 45 minutes in the chair for a single extraction, whereas IV sedation procedures can take longer because the sedative requires monitoring and recovery time. IV sedation costs more than local anesthesia; expect to pay a facility fee beyond the surgical fee itself. Implant placement fees in Oklahoma City oral surgery practices typically range from $1,200 to $2,200 per implant (bone graft and abutment components billed separately). Extraction fees vary widely depending on complexity: simple removals run $150 to $400; surgical extractions (bone removal, tooth sectioning) range $400 to $800. Pricing should be confirmed with the office when your dentist sends your referral, as individual surgeon fees and facility charges differ. Verify current fees directly with the practice.

How Ashburn compares to other Oklahoma City oral surgeons

Oklahoma City has several established oral surgery practices. Ashburn's solo practice contrasts with larger groups like Peak Oral Surgery (multiple surgeons, multiple office locations) and practices affiliated with dental schools or hospital systems. Solo practitioners often offer more continuity because you see the same surgeon throughout your treatment, whereas group practices may assign you to an available surgeon. Larger groups typically have evening and Saturday hours; Ashburn's hours should be confirmed, as they may not include weekend availability. Groups also absorb cancellations more easily with multiple surgeons. Ashburn's practice is appropriate if you value working with one experienced surgeon over scheduling convenience and expanded hours. Choose a group practice if you need same-week appointments or evening availability.

Who this suits and who it does not

Ashburn suits patients with straightforward or moderately complex extractions and implant cases who can wait for scheduled appointments and who have dental insurance (he accepts most plans, which typically cover 50% of surgical costs after deductible). His referral-only model works for patients whose general dentist already manages their overall care and simply needs a surgeon for one discrete procedure. He does not suit emergency patients needing same-day extractions due to infection or trauma; hospital emergency departments and urgent surgical centers handle acute cases. He is also not a choice for patients without a referring dentist or those seeking a one-stop dental shop, because he performs surgery only and refers post-extraction or post-implant restoration back to your general dentist.

What the first visit involves

Your general dentist submits radiographs and a referral form describing the tooth or implant site needing surgery. The oral surgeon's office schedules a consultation appointment where Ashburn reviews imaging, discusses your medical history, explains the procedure, confirms sedation preference, and reviews cost and insurance coverage. You will receive post-operative instructions and arrange transportation if choosing IV sedation (you cannot drive after sedation). The actual surgical appointment is scheduled separately; timing depends on surgical urgency and practice availability. Most practices require you to stop eating and drinking several hours before sedation, and to avoid blood thinners or NSAIDs per the surgeon's instructions.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Confirm Ashburn's office hours, location, and parking directly with the practice, as solo surgeons sometimes operate limited schedules. Standard Oklahoma City oral surgery practices keep 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekday hours, with few offering Saturdays. Parking should be available at the office location; call ahead if you have accessibility needs. Recovery from IV sedation takes 2 to 4 hours, so plan to be driven home rather than attempting work or errands.

Ashburn holds a place in Oklahoma City's surgical dentistry network by accepting referrals and working cleanly within the division of labor that keeps oral surgery separate from general restorative dentistry.