Heath Paul A Jr DDS in Oklahoma City: Oral Surgery with Emphasis on Implant and Extraction Care

Heath Paul A Jr DDS is a solo oral surgery practice in Oklahoma City offering tooth extractions, dental implants, and related surgical procedures under various sedation options. The practice operates as a referral-based specialty clinic, distinct from general dentistry, and handles cases ranging from simple extractions to complex implant planning and placement.

What the practice does

Dr. Paul focuses on the surgical management of teeth and oral structures, treating patients referred from general dentists and periodontists across the Oklahoma City area. The scope includes routine and surgical extractions, implant placement and restoration planning, bone grafting for implant candidates with inadequate ridge, and dentoalveolar surgical cases. Unlike a general dentist who may extract a tooth under local anesthesia only, an oral surgeon manages difficult extractions, provides deeper sedation options, and coordinates the prosthetic phase of implant therapy.

Procedures and sedation options

Tooth extraction pricing varies by complexity. Simple extractions of fully erupted teeth without bone removal typically run lower in cost than surgical extractions, which require bone removal or tooth sectioning. Implant placement fees in Oklahoma City range from $2,500 to $4,500 per implant depending on difficulty and whether bone grafting is needed; verify current fees directly with the office. Dr. Paul offers local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, and oral or IV sedation, with IV sedation commanded a higher procedural fee due to anesthesia staff and monitoring. Bone graft materials, if required, add $500 to $2,000 per site depending on source (synthetic, allograft, or autograft) and volume.

How it compares to other Oklahoma City oral surgeons

Oklahoma City has multiple oral surgery practices. Oral Surgery Associates of Oklahoma and offices under the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery practice group near the medical district both handle the same spectrum of cases. Dr. Paul's practice is smaller and typically available for new referrals with shorter scheduling wait times than some larger group offices; practices affiliated with dental schools or hospital systems may have longer administrative pathways. Choose a solo practitioner like Dr. Paul if your general dentist has an established referral relationship and values direct communication; choose a group practice if you need backup availability or require hospital-based sedation for medically complex cases.

Who it suits and who it doesn't

Dr. Paul's practice suits patients requiring tooth extraction or implant surgery referred by their general dentist, and those comfortable with a referral model rather than direct access. Patients with multiple missing teeth seeking implant rehabilitation benefit from clear coordination between surgeon and restorative dentist. The practice does not function as an emergency walk-in clinic; acute dental trauma or infection should be directed to an emergency room or urgent dental care facility. Pediatric cases are uncommon in oral surgery practices and are typically not a focus area.

The first visit process

Your general dentist submits a referral before you call. At the initial consultation, Dr. Paul evaluates the surgical site in person, reviews imaging (often a CBCT scan if implants are planned), discusses sedation choice and medical history, and reviews the surgical plan and recovery expectations. Insurance pre-authorization may be needed; the office checks coverage as part of intake. Most consultations do not involve surgery that day; surgery is scheduled after the plan is agreed upon and any required pre-operative imaging is complete.

Hours and logistics

The practice operates during standard business hours. Parking is available on-site or in adjacent lot space. Oklahoma City traffic on major corridors during morning and late afternoon can lengthen travel time; allow extra time for afternoon appointments on weekdays. Post-operative swelling and bruising peak on days two and three after surgery; arrange rides for the day of IV sedation since you will not be cleared to drive.

Dr. Paul's oral surgery practice fills a necessary referral role in Oklahoma City's dental system, moving complex surgical cases beyond the scope of general dentistry and freeing general dentists to focus on routine care.