Michael K. Forth, DDS, in Oklahoma City: Oral Surgery Focused on Referral Cases

Michael K. Forth, DDS, is an oral surgeon in Oklahoma City who handles surgical extractions, dental implant placement, and bone grafting, typically working through referrals from general dentists and specialists across the metro area.

What Michael K. Forth, DDS, actually is

Forth operates as a single-practitioner oral surgery clinic within Oklahoma City's dental network. Unlike general dentists who extract simple teeth or place implants in straightforward cases, oral surgeons manage impacted wisdom teeth, complex extractions in compromised bone, guided bone regeneration before implant placement, and cases requiring IV sedation. Forth's practice is referral-based, meaning patients arrive with a treatment plan and pre-authorization from their primary dentist rather than as direct walk-in consumers.

Procedures and sedation options

Forth's scope includes third-molar extraction (wisdom teeth), including impacted and partially bony-impacted cases; surgical extraction of retained root tips; implant placement with site development when needed; and bone grafting before implant restoration. The practice offers IV sedation and local anesthesia; patients referred to Forth typically discuss sedation preference and medical history with their referring dentist before arrival.

Pricing varies by procedure complexity. A straightforward surgical extraction runs lower than extraction of a deeply impacted third molar, and implant placement involves a separate fee from the eventual crown placed by the restorative dentist. Forth's office can provide a detailed estimate once the referral and radiographs arrive; this conversation usually happens before the first appointment, ensuring insurance preauthorization is in place. Patients enrolled in PPO and HMO plans differ in their out-of-pocket exposure; an uninsured patient should confirm pricing upfront with the practice.

Comparison with other Oklahoma City oral surgeons

Oklahoma City hosts multiple oral surgery practices. Forth operates as a solo provider, which means continuity with a single surgeon across multiple visits (as with bone graft healing and implant osseointegration) but potentially longer appointment wait times than larger group practices. Surgeons at multi-provider group offices like those affiliated with university-based programs or specialty centers may offer same-week referral processing and varied sub-specialties (such as jaw reconstruction or orthognathic surgery); these groups justify higher overhead but appeal to dentists seeking rapid turnaround on routine extractions. Forth's single-provider model suits referring dentists who prefer direct surgeon-to-surgeon communication and longer-term follow-up relationships.

Who this suits and who it does not

Forth is ideal for patients with complex tooth anatomy, heavy smoking or diabetes, compromised bone density, or those needing IV sedation. General dentists refer to Forth when in-office extraction risks trauma or inadequate visualization. Patients with straightforward tooth removal and no medical complexity may never need oral surgery; their general dentist handles extraction without referral. Those seeking cosmetic implant consultation as a direct consumer (without dentist involvement) should start with a restorative dentist, who will refer to oral surgery once the implant surgical phase is determined to be necessary.

What the first visit involves

A referral visit to Forth begins with paperwork covering medical history, current medications, and previous anesthesia reactions. Clinical examination focuses on tooth position, bone anatomy (evident from CBCT or panoramic films the referring dentist has provided), and assessment of extraction difficulty or implant site development. If IV sedation is anticipated, pre-operative labs may be ordered. The surgeon discusses the procedure, recovery timeline, and cost estimate. Most appointments run 30 to 60 minutes depending on complexity; implant cases often involve planning discussion separate from implant insertion.

Hours, location, and parking

Confirm Forth's current office hours and address directly with the referring dentist or call the practice; surgical practices often operate limited daytime hours and may close one or two days weekly. Parking at single-provider dental offices in Oklahoma City typically involves street or shared-lot access; call ahead if wheelchair or handicap accessibility is needed. Post-operative pain and swelling peak in the first 48 hours; Forth provides post-op instructions and contact information for after-hours questions.

Why this practice matters in Oklahoma City

Forth holds a specific role in Oklahoma City's dental ecosystem: he absorbs the cases requiring surgical skill and judgment that general dentists appropriately refer. For patients, this means straightforward extraction or implant diagnosis happens first with a general or specialist dentist, then moves to Forth only when surgery is the next step. That clarity and separation of care reduces unnecessary referrals and keeps surgical expertise focused on cases where it is needed.