Murrieta Oral Surgery, Done In-Office by the Dentist You Already See
Extractions, wisdom teeth, bone grafting, and implant-site surgery. No hospital, no cross-town referral.
Most of the oral surgery people walk in worried about does not need a specialist. I do extractions, erupted and slightly impacted wisdom teeth, bone grafting, and implant-site preparation here on Date Street, in the same chair where you get your cleanings. I spent ten years doing surgical dentistry in the U.S. Navy and brought that training into this practice. You get a written price before I start, and often an appointment the same day you call.
What “Oral Surgery” Actually Means in a General Practice
The phrase lands harder than the reality usually does. Clinically, oral surgery is any procedure that cuts, removes, or reshapes tissue inside the mouth, and that description covers a large share of ordinary dentistry. Pulling a tooth qualifies. So does lifting out an impacted wisdom tooth, grafting bone so a jaw can hold an implant, reshaping gum tissue, or taking a sample from a sore that will not heal. If you have been typing “oral surgeon near me” into your phone, the useful thing to know first is that a general dentist with real surgical training can handle most of what sent you searching.
I do the full scope of general-practice oral surgery in this office. I am not going to send you across the valley for a surgical extraction I can do safely here or put you on a six-week waitlist with someone who has never opened your chart. There are real exceptions. Most impacted wisdom teeth, jaw fractures, corrective jaw surgery, and advanced pathology belong with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and when a case is one of those I tell you plainly and make the call myself. Everything short of that gets done here, for patients from Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee, and French Valley.
- What it covers
- Simple and surgical tooth extractions, erupted and slightly impacted wisdom teeth, bone grafting, implant-site preparation, soft-tissue surgery, and biopsies, all performed in this office.
- Anesthesia
- Local anesthesia on every case, with nitrous oxide available. Sedation pills, IV sedation, and general anesthesia are not offered here; cases that need them are referred.
- Appointment length
- Usually 30 to 90 minutes, depending on how complex the case turns out to be.
- Recovery
- Two to five days of soreness for most extractions. Bone grafts need three to six months of integration before an implant can go in.
- Cost
- Each procedure page lists its own fee. Anything without a published fee is quoted in writing after a $20 exam with digital X-rays. Most PPO plans cover surgical procedures at 50 to 80 percent after the deductible.
- Blood thinners
- Most patients keep taking them. Warfarin patients bring a recent INR, and I control bleeding at the site with stitches and a clotting sponge when it needs them.
- Referred out
- Most impacted wisdom teeth, jaw fractures, corrective jaw surgery, and advanced pathology belong with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, and I make that call myself.
One office, from the X-ray to the healed socket
Because I read the films, do the surgery, and see you at the follow-up, nothing gets lost in translation between offices. I already know your medical history and which medications you take. I know why that molar cracked. And when someone from our team calls the next morning to ask how you slept, it is a person who has your chart in front of her, not a call center reading a script. That continuity is the practical reason to keep oral surgery in-house instead of splitting it across three buildings.
Oral Surgery Procedures I Perform on Date Street
When the clinical picture calls for surgery, I am working with hands that learned this on active-duty Marines, where putting a procedure off until next month was not an option. These are the cases I see most often.
Tooth Extractions
Simple and surgical extractions, done here when saving the tooth no longer makes sense. How I decide, what each kind involves, and the fee are on my page for tooth extraction in Murrieta.
Wisdom Teeth
I remove erupted and slightly impacted wisdom teeth and refer the deep ones. Which group yours falls in, and what each costs, is on the page for wisdom teeth removal in Murrieta.
Bone Grafting
Rebuilding bone after an extraction so an implant has something to hold. The graft materials, the healing window, and the flat fee are on the dental bone graft page; bone missing under an upper molar needs a sinus lift instead.
Soft-Tissue Surgery
Gum and oral-lining work: grafting for gum recession, crown lengthening to expose sound structure before a same-day crown, frenectomy for a tight lip or tongue tie, and gingivectomy to reshape excess tissue. Most of these sites look normal again in two to four weeks.
Biopsies and Lesion Removal
Any sore, white patch, red patch, or swelling still there after two weeks deserves a look. I take the biopsy here and send every specimen to an oral pathology lab. The CDC’s oral health data is blunt on this point: oral cancers found early do far better than the ones found late.
Pre-Prosthetic Surgery
Before dentures or implant-supported restorations can seat correctly, the jaw sometimes needs contouring. Bony tori, a sharp ridge crest, or excess fibrous tissue will all fight the fit. Smoothing the foundation first is what lets the finished appliance sit comfortably and stay that way.
When a Dental Problem Crosses Into a Surgical One
Not every toothache needs a scalpel, and I will not push surgery where a filling or a crown does the job. But some conditions pass a point where conservative treatment stops working, and knowing roughly where that point sits helps you act while the problem is still small.
A tooth fractured below the gumline
No bonding or crown rescues a root split vertically. Surgical extraction takes the fragments out cleanly and preserves the socket for whatever restoration comes next.
Infection that outlasts antibiotics
When an abscess keeps coming back after a course of medication, the source has to go. Surgical drainage or extraction removes it before it spreads into neighboring teeth or deeper tissue. That is also an emergency dental visit, not a next-month problem.
Impacted wisdom teeth
Third molars trapped in bone can't come in. The Cleveland Clinic recommends removal once they cause pain, cysts, or damage next door; the wisdom tooth page explains which ones I take out and which I refer.
Bone loss before implants
A ridge that has shrunk since an old extraction needs bone grafting before anything can be placed in it.
A lesion that will not heal
A sore lasting more than two weeks, a lump, or a color change in the tissue is worth a biopsy. Getting a diagnosis early changes what the treatment looks like.
A failed root canal
When root canal retreatment is not realistic, an apicoectomy can remove the infected root tip and keep the tooth. If the tooth is past saving, we plan the extraction and the replacement together.
Before, During, and After Your Oral Surgery Appointment
Before surgery
Every surgical case starts with a $20 exam and digital X-rays, plus 3D imaging when I need to assess bone. I go through your medical history and your medications, and blood thinners get specific attention. Most patients don’t need to stop them, which matches the ADA’s review of the evidence, and I don’t want anyone stopping one on their own. If you take warfarin, I ask for a recent INR result before surgery day, because that number tells me how your blood is clotting now, not at last month’s check. Then you get a written treatment plan covering the procedure, whether we'll use nitrous, the cost, and the post-op instructions, and you read it before you sign anything. If you want laughing gas, it goes in the plan so it's set up before you sit down. If you'd need deeper sedation than that, this is the visit where I tell you and arrange the referral.
During the procedure
Local anesthesia numbs the site completely, and I test it before starting. Nitrous oxide keeps most patients comfortably relaxed. I narrate what I am doing as I work, because most of what makes people tense is not knowing what the next sound is. We monitor your vitals throughout. Before you sit up, the bleeding has to be under control. On patients taking blood thinners I often place a dissolvable clotting sponge in the socket and close the gum with stitches so the clot has something to hold onto. Most visits run 30 to 90 minutes depending on complexity.
After surgery
You leave with written post-op instructions, gauze, ice-pack guidance, a prescription when the case warrants one, and a follow-up already on the books, usually a week out for a healing check and suture removal. The next morning someone from our team calls to see how the night went. If something is wrong at 9 p.m. on a Saturday, call the office line anyway. We monitor it.
One home remedy I actually recommend: if a socket is still oozing after firm gauze pressure, moisten a plain black tea bag, squeeze it out, and bite on it over the site for about 30 minutes. The tannins in black tea help the clot form, and a review of the published research supports it as a simple way to control bleeding after an extraction. Herbal tea won’t do the same job.
Anesthesia and Sedation Options
Most of what makes people dread oral surgery is the anesthesia question, so here is the whole ladder, including the rungs I don’t offer here.
| Option | What it feels like | Typical use | Driver needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local anesthesia | Site is fully numb, you are completely alert. | Every surgical case, on its own for simple extractions. | No |
| Nitrous oxide | Light, floaty calm. Clears in five to ten minutes of breathing oxygen. | Mild to moderate nerves, wisdom teeth, longer appointments. | No |
| Oral conscious sedation | Deep relaxation. Most patients remember very little of the visit. | Heavier anxiety, grafting, multiple extractions in one sitting. Not offered at our office; referred out when you need more than nitrous. | Yes, both directions |
| IV sedation or general anesthesia | Asleep or near-asleep, with monitored airway support. | Hospital-level cases. Not performed at our office; referred out when a case truly needs it. | Not applicable here |
How to Prepare the Week Before
What Recovery Actually Looks Like
Recovery varies by procedure, but most of my patients follow a predictable arc. Knowing what counts as normal removes most of the worry.
Days 1 and 2. Swelling peaks, usually around the 48-hour mark. Discomfort is managed with what I prescribed or with over-the-counter medication. Eat soft and lukewarm: yogurt, scrambled eggs, smoothies by spoon, broth-based soup. Ice in 20-minute intervals. No straws, no spitting, no vigorous rinsing, since all three can pull the clot off the site.
Days 3 to 5. Swelling starts backing off. Bruising along the jawline or down the neck looks alarming and is normal; it resolves on its own. Firmer food comes back as comfort allows. Start gentle saltwater rinses, half a teaspoon in eight ounces of warm water, several times a day.
Weeks 1 and 2. Most people feel close to themselves again. Sutures either dissolve or come out at the follow-up. The site is still healing under the surface, so keep crunchy, sharp, and very hot food away from it, and brush everywhere except directly over the healing tissue.
Weeks 3 to 6 and beyond. Soft tissue is essentially healed. Bone grafts take longer, typically three to six months of integration before an implant can be placed, and I track that with periodic imaging so you know exactly when the site is ready rather than guessing.
| Procedure | Back to your routine | Site fully healed |
|---|---|---|
| Simple extraction | 1 to 2 days | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Slightly impacted wisdom tooth | 3 to 5 days | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Soft-tissue surgery | 1 to 3 days | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Bone graft | 3 to 5 days | 3 to 6 months before an implant |
| Implant placement | 2 to 3 days | 3 to 6 months to integrate |
What Can Go Wrong, and What I Do About It
Oral surgery is surgery, and I don't treat any extraction as minor. Even a simple one can turn complicated in the chair, and any socket can run into trouble while it heals. I would rather you hear the honest list from me before the procedure than read it on a forum at midnight afterward. I plan for each of these before I start, I handle them when they happen, and every one of them is a reason to call the office rather than wait it out.
Dry socket
The most common complication after an extraction, and more likely after a difficult lower molar or if you smoke. The clot comes loose before the bone underneath has healed, usually three to five days out. I pack the socket with medicated dressing and the pain drops within an hour. What it looks like and how to tell it from normal healing is on the dry socket page.
Infection at the site
Swelling that grows instead of shrinking after day three, a bad taste, or fever. It is treated with antibiotics and sometimes drainage. Following the post-op rinse instructions is what keeps the number low.
Nerve irritation
Lower wisdom teeth sit near the inferior alveolar nerve, which is why I map the root position on a panoramic film before any incision. Temporary numbness or tingling in the lip or chin resolves on its own in the large majority of cases.
Prolonged bleeding
Some oozing for the first day is normal. Bleeding that soaks gauze after several hours is not. It is more likely on blood thinners, which is why warfarin patients bring a recent INR and why I use stitches and a clotting sponge on those sites when they need it. At home, firm gauze or a moistened black tea bag handles most of what is left.
Sinus communication
Upper back molars sit close to the sinus floor. Occasionally an extraction opens a small connection. It usually closes on its own with sinus precautions, and I check for it before you leave the chair.
Reaction to medication
Rare, and the reason your allergy history and current prescriptions get reviewed at every surgical visit rather than filed once and forgotten.
What Does Oral Surgery Cost Here?
The fee depends on which procedure you need, so each one is explained on its own page, with the reasons behind the number. The short list is below. Anything without a published fee gets a written estimate after the exam and imaging, and the number on that paper is the number you pay.
| Procedure | Fee here | Full breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Extraction, any tooth except a wisdom tooth | $195 to $450, set by difficulty | Tooth extraction |
| Wisdom tooth | Quoted after a panoramic X-ray; deep impactions referred | Wisdom tooth removal |
| Socket preservation graft | $500 per site, membrane included | Bone grafting |
| Biopsy, soft-tissue and pre-prosthetic surgery | Written quote after the exam | Discussed at your $20 exam |
Dr. Bao Nguyen, DDS: Surgical Training Built in the U.S. Navy
There is a reason I keep most oral surgery in this office. My training was surgical from the beginning. After I graduated from the UCLA School of Dentistry, I joined the U.S. Navy Dental Corps and completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton. That year was not classroom work. It was surgical extractions on active-duty Marines, grafts on trauma patients, emergency abscess drainage, and restorative work for a population whose deployment date did not move because a tooth hurt.
After the residency I deployed to Kuwait and Iraq. Dental readiness downrange means handling whatever comes through the door with the instruments already on the tray, whether that is a cracked wisdom tooth or a laceration through the lip. Ten years of that builds a certain calm. I opened Promenade Dental Care in 2010 and brought the calm with me.
The approach has not changed since: examine thoroughly, image before deciding, explain honestly, work gently, follow up personally. My California license is verifiable through the Dental Board of California. The reviews say roughly what I would hope they say. Patients do not describe me as fast or aggressive. They describe me as careful and clear, and for surgical care those are the qualities that matter.
Surgical Care, Reviewed by the People Who Sat in the Chair
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5 stars
“I am completely terrified of the dentist. I neglected getting anything done for years and years because of bad experiences and just general fear and anxiety. Well I got sick of having an aching jaw everyday so I came in and got a x-ray and consultation and they told me what work needed to be done. The price was pretty much half of what comparable dentists wanted and they were really really nice to me. So I saved up the money and went back in for the procedure. The doctor gave me some anxiety meds which completely relaxed me and they were just great about everything and I can honestly say I have way less fear and anxiety about going back to the dentist. The best part was they did all my procedures at once so I wouldn't have to make return visits. I got a tooth extraction, a crown, a handful of cavities, a deep cleaning and some other stuff all done at the exact same time. It's been 3 days now and everything is healing beautifully I'm no longer in any pain and I'm just grateful. So if you have any anxiety about going to the dentist, this is the place for you. Oh and tell the doctor I said get rid of that creepy tooth picture in the waiting room haha!”
Jay · Google review
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5 stars
“Very knowledgable and good prices. Does only what is necessary. Does not just look for stuff to charge for. Got an appointment quickly when I thought it was an emergency. My favorite dentist ever!! 2024 recent visit: Unfortunately I needed two crowns replaced. He shows you where the problem is in the X-ray room. Plus, Dr. Bao has all the latest, modern equipment. The 2 crowns were created right in his office and you can see them being made in a window. He also has all the latest equipment, even a special camera, not X-ray, that takes hundreds of photos of where the crown will fit. Unlike in the olden days when they put putty stuff in your mouth. This was a clean and painless process. I felt fine afterwards and my mouth was no longer numb and I could easily go shopping at Costco afterwards, with my new crowns in the same day. He is the best!”
Sheila O'Connor · Google review
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5 stars
“Dr Nguyen is very quick but very gentle, he has more practical experience than most others, so my wife and I recommend his fine dentistry.”
Blue Sheppard · Google review
★★★★★Rated 5 out of 5 stars
“Good Day, My name is Debby and I have been a patient of Dr. Nyugens now for over a decade at Promenade Dental. Doctor and staff, which includes Edith are incredibly wonderful, so kind, caring and compassionate, yet professional. They go above and beyond to care for their patients which includes painless treatments in a calming atmosphere. Dr. Nyugen met me at his office for an emergency visit during the height of covid and I will forever be thankful for it! I refer family and friends who have a pleasant experience also. Most Sincerely!”
Debra Davidowitz · Google review
Oral Surgery for Southwest Riverside County
Promenade Dental Care is at 26957 Date St, Suite B4, Murrieta, CA 92563, in the Aldi shopping center on the Date Street corridor near Murrieta Hot Springs Road, a few minutes from either the I-15 or the I-215. Surgical patients drive in from across the valley: Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee, French Valley, Winchester, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Fallbrook, and Hemet. If you have been searching “oral surgeon near me,” that whole map is a short drive to this chair.
Murrieta Oral Surgery Questions, Answered
Does oral surgery at Promenade Dental Care hurt?
No, not during the procedure. I numb the surgical site with local anesthesia and I test it before I pick up an instrument, so you feel pressure and movement but not pain. Nitrous oxide is available if you want it. Afterward, most patients describe two to five days of soreness that ibuprofen and acetaminophen handle well. I prescribe something stronger when the case calls for it, and we go over your pain plan before you leave.
How long does an oral surgery appointment take?
Most surgical visits at our Murrieta office run 30 to 90 minutes. A simple extraction is often done in 20 minutes. A slightly impacted wisdom tooth that needs a flap or sectioning usually takes 45 to 60 minutes. Bone grafting with a membrane runs closer to 90 minutes. I give you a realistic time estimate at the consultation so you can plan the rest of your day around it.
Will I be put to sleep for oral surgery?
No. We use local anesthesia, with nitrous oxide if you want it, not general anesthesia. You stay awake, you breathe on your own, and you can answer me during the procedure. Nitrous oxide gives mild relaxation and wears off within minutes. If you want deeper sedation or to be fully asleep, I refer you to an office that provides it; general anesthesia is a hospital-level service and we do not perform it here.
How soon can I go back to work after oral surgery?
Most patients go back to desk work in one to two days. Physical labor, heavy lifting, and hard exercise should wait three to five days, because a spike in blood pressure can restart bleeding at the site. Wisdom tooth removal and bone grafting usually need the longer end of that range. I write return-to-activity guidance specific to your procedure on your post-op sheet.
What can I eat after oral surgery?
Soft, lukewarm food for the first two to three days: yogurt, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, applesauce, broth-based soup, and smoothies eaten with a spoon. Add firmer food back gradually as comfort allows. Keep anything crunchy, spicy, acidic, or very hot away from the site for about a week. Skip straws entirely, because the suction can pull the blood clot out of the socket and cause dry socket.
Can I drive myself home after oral surgery?
Yes. We use local anesthesia alone or local plus nitrous oxide, and nitrous clears out of your system in five to ten minutes of breathing oxygen; we keep you in the chair until it does. The one exception is a prescription pain medicine: if I give you one, don't drive while you're taking it.
Does dental insurance cover oral surgery in Murrieta?
Most PPO dental plans do. They classify extractions, wisdom tooth removal, and bone grafting as major restorative care and cover them at 50 to 80 percent after your deductible. We accept PPO plans and are in network with Delta Dental PPO, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian, Aetna, and United Concordia, so for most PPO patients the share is lower here than at an out-of-network office. We verify your exact benefits before treatment and put the number in writing. Without insurance, you get straightforward cash pricing and CareCredit financing for patients who qualify.
What does oral surgery cost at Promenade Dental Care?
It depends on the procedure. Removing any tooth other than a wisdom tooth is $195 to $450 and a socket graft is $500 per site; the tooth extraction and bone grafting pages explain what moves the number. Everything else gets a written estimate after the $20 exam, and the number on that paper is the number you pay.
What is the difference between a general dentist and an oral surgeon?
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon finishes a four- to six-year hospital residency focused on complex jaw surgery, facial trauma, and advanced pathology. A general dentist with surgical training can perform the majority of what patients actually need: extractions, wisdom teeth, bone grafts, biopsies, and soft-tissue procedures. My training came from a Navy AEGD residency at Camp Pendleton plus ten years in the Dental Corps. When a case genuinely exceeds general-practice scope, I say so, refer you to a specialist I trust, and stay involved in the plan.
Can I get oral surgery the same day I call?
Often, yes. I hold surgical time open each week for straightforward extractions and emergencies, so a broken or abscessed tooth rarely waits more than a day. Cases that need 3D imaging or graft planning usually go on the schedule within a few days. That is a different experience from the multi-week wait that referral-based surgical offices typically quote.
I am terrified of surgery. What are my options?
You are in good company, and being afraid does not disqualify you from care. A large share of my practice is anxious patients. Nitrous oxide takes the edge off mild to moderate nerves, and if you need deeper sedation than that, I will refer you to an office that provides it. I explain each step before it happens, and I stop the moment you raise a hand. Start with a $20 exam so you can meet me and see the office with no obligation to book treatment that day.
What are the risks of oral surgery?
The realistic list is short: dry socket after an extraction, infection at the site, temporary numbness if a nerve near a lower wisdom tooth is irritated, prolonged bleeding, a small sinus opening after an upper back molar, and rarely a reaction to medication. Any extraction can lead to one of them, including a simple one, which is why I don't treat any extraction as minor. All of them are manageable when they're caught early. I review your medical history and medications before every surgical case specifically to lower those odds, and I would rather you call the office about something minor than wait on something that is not.
Need Oral Surgery in Murrieta?
Start with a $20 exam. I will image the problem, walk you through the options, and hand you a written quote. No pressure, no upsell, no referral runaround.