Drew Richard DDS in Oklahoma City: Oral Surgery with Sedation Options for Complex Extractions and Implant Placement

Drew Richard DDS is a solo oral surgery practice in Oklahoma City offering surgical tooth extractions, implant placement, and related procedures, with multiple sedation choices ranging from local anesthesia to general anesthesia. The practice serves patients requiring more advanced dental intervention than general dentists provide, including those needing wisdom teeth removal, implant restoration after tooth loss, and surgical correction of jaw-related issues.

What Drew Richard DDS Actually Is

This practice operates as a specialty oral surgery office focused on surgical procedures and implant dentistry. Unlike general dentists, oral surgeons complete 4 to 6 additional years of surgical training beyond dental school. Drew Richard DDS handles cases that demand this training: impacted or partially erupted teeth, bone grafting, sinus lift procedures, and implant surgery. The practice accepts referrals from general dentists throughout the Oklahoma City area and also sees self-referred patients. The office functions as an endpoint in complex dental care pathways, stepping in when extraction or implant placement requires surgical skill or when a general dentist determines that scope exceeds their capabilities.

Procedures and Sedation Options

The practice offers surgical extractions (removing teeth that cannot be accessed or removed with standard forceps), implant placement (surgically inserting the titanium root form), and bone grafting when implant sites lack sufficient bone volume. Sedation levels range from local anesthesia alone to nitrous oxide combined with local anesthesia (conscious sedation) to general anesthesia administered by an anesthesiologist or oral surgeon. The sedation choice depends on procedure complexity, patient anxiety level, and medical history. For routine impacted wisdom teeth extractions, local anesthesia with or without nitrous oxide is typical; for apprehensive patients or multiple simultaneous extractions, general anesthesia increases comfort but adds cost and recovery time.

Pricing for extractions typically runs $150 to $400 per tooth, depending on impaction severity and position (lower teeth are often cheaper than upper teeth). Implant placement alone costs roughly $1,200 to $2,000; full implant restoration (including crown) ranges from $4,000 to $6,000 per tooth when all components are included. Confirm current fees directly, as surgical complexity and material costs shift estimates.

How Drew Richard DDS Compares to Other Oklahoma City Oral Surgeons

Oklahoma City has multiple oral surgery options. Richard Garriott DDS, MS (also oral surgery, with an MS in maxillofacial surgery) serves patients needing complex reconstruction and jaw surgery in addition to routine implant and extraction work. Stephen Tague, DDS, MS operates another established practice with similar scope. A meaningful distinction: practices vary in anesthesia setup. Some employ in-house anesthesiologists; others rely on the surgeon to administer IV sedation or general anesthesia. This difference affects appointment wait times, total procedure cost, and the depth of monitoring during surgery. Drew Richard DDS's specific anesthesia model (whether in-house anesthesia support is available) should be confirmed when calling to assess safety protocols and cost structure for your procedure.

For wisdom teeth removal alone, general dentists with oral surgery experience can sometimes handle straightforward erupted or minimally impacted cases; prices run $75 to $150 per tooth, versus $200 to $400 at an oral surgery specialist. Choose a specialist if teeth are severely impacted, deeply buried in bone, or if the patient has medical conditions requiring advanced airway management. Choose a general dentist for simple erupted extractions to save money if bone position permits.

Who This Practice Suits and Who It Does Not Suit

This practice is suited to patients with impacted or surgically complex teeth, those needing implant placement, and anxious patients who benefit from sedation. It works well for people with limited healing time (implants often allow faster function than long-term removable dentures) and those seeking expert surgical technique in a specialty setting.

It does not suit patients needing routine preventive cleaning, fillings, or crown work outside the surgical scope. General dentists handle those faster and more affordably. Patients with medical complexity (severe cardiac disease, airway disorders, multiple medications affecting bleeding) should disclose this upfront; some cases require hospital-based oral surgery rather than an office setting.

What the First Visit Involves

The first appointment typically begins with a consultation, often including a cone-beam CT scan (3D X-ray) if implant placement or complex extraction is planned. The surgeon reviews the images, discusses your surgical options, explains sedation choices, clarifies cost, and addresses questions. Patients provide medical and dental history, current medications, and allergy information. If you are a self-referral (not sent by a general dentist), bring any recent dental X-rays or records. The surgeon assesses whether general anesthesia, IV sedation, or local anesthesia is appropriate based on your health and the procedure. Insurance verification is handled by the office if you provide your plan details. Surgery is typically scheduled at a separate appointment, though some practices can perform simple cases during the consultation visit.

Hours, Parking, and Logistics

Contact the office directly for current hours, as surgical practices sometimes block appointment times by complexity rather than holding standard daily schedules. Most oral surgery offices in Oklahoma City operate weekday mornings and afternoons, with limited or no Saturday availability. Parking is typically lot or street parking near the office location; specifics depend on the building. Plan for 1 to 3 hours total for surgical visits, longer if general anesthesia is used (recovery room time is included). You will need a driver if sedation is administered; arrange transportation in advance. Swelling and bruising peak on days 2 and 3 after surgery; plan recovery time accordingly.

Drew Richard DDS fills the essential role of surgical specialist in Oklahoma City's dental ecosystem, handling procedures that demand training beyond general dentistry and offering sedation options that general dentists cannot provide in their offices.