Oral Surgery Procedures in Arizona | Dental Implants, Wisdom Teeth & More

Oral and maxillofacial surgery covers a lot of ground.

It’s the specialty responsible for everything from removing a wisdom tooth that came in crooked to rebuilding an entire jaw after injury or disease. Between those two ends of the spectrum sit dozens of procedures that can meaningfully improve a patient’s oral health, function, and quality of life — and AZ Max performs all of them.

Since 1994, AZ Max Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons has been the East Valley’s most trusted surgical dental group. Our five Arizona offices — Mesa, North Mesa, Tempe, Queen Creek, and Show Low — are each staffed by fellowship-trained, board-certified surgeons who handle the full surgical spectrum, not just the routine cases.

This page is your guide to every procedure we offer. Click through to any procedure to learn what it involves, who it’s for, what to expect, and how to get started.

Ready to book? Schedule a free consultation online or call (480) 830-5866.

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Dental Implants & Tooth Replacement

Tooth loss affects far more than appearance. Missing teeth change the way you bite, accelerate jawbone loss, and can shift neighboring teeth out of alignment over time. Dental implants address all of these consequences at the root level — literally — by replacing the tooth structure beneath the gum line, not just the visible crown.

Dental Implants

A dental implant is a small titanium post surgically placed into the jawbone to serve as an artificial tooth root. Once the implant fuses with the bone through a process called osseointegration, a custom crown is attached on top — creating a replacement tooth that looks, feels, and functions like a natural one. Implants can replace a single tooth, several teeth, or an entire arch.

AZ Max places implants using advanced CBCT imaging and guided surgical technology, which improves precision and reduces recovery time.

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All-on-4® Dental Implants

All-on-4® is a full-arch restoration technique that replaces an entire row of teeth using just four strategically positioned implants. The angled placement of the rear implants allows the procedure to work even in patients with significant bone loss who were previously told implants weren’t possible. A fixed, non-removable arch of teeth is delivered the same day as surgery in most cases.

AZ Max surgeon Dr. Brent Boyse co-developed the patented Chrome Guided Smile technique, which enhances the precision and predictability of All-on-4® outcomes. This is not a standard offering at most practices.

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Hybrid Implants (Implant-Supported Dentures)

Hybrid implants — sometimes called implant-supported dentures or hybrid dentures — combine the stability of dental implants with a full denture prosthetic. The denture snaps or screws onto implants anchored in the jaw, eliminating slippage, improving chewing function, and preventing the ongoing bone loss associated with traditional removable dentures.

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Bone & Tissue Procedures

Successful implant placement — and good long-term oral health — depends heavily on the quality and quantity of bone and soft tissue in the jaw. These procedures restore or optimize that foundation.

Dental Bone Grafting

Bone grafting rebuilds jawbone that has been lost due to tooth extraction, gum disease, trauma, or long-term denture wear. Grafting material — which may be synthetic, donor-derived, or taken from another part of your own body — is placed in the area of bone loss. Over several months, your body replaces this material with new bone, creating a solid base for implant placement.

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Ridge Augmentation

After a tooth is extracted, the alveolar ridge — the bony shelf that once held the tooth root — can collapse inward, leaving a sunken or irregular contour. Ridge augmentation rebuilds this natural shape using grafting techniques, preserving both the aesthetic contour of your smile and the structural foundation needed for future implant placement.

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Alveoloplasty

Alveoloplasty reshapes and smooths the bony ridge of the jaw — often performed at the time of multiple extractions or in preparation for dentures. By removing irregular bone contours and sharp edges, this procedure creates a more even foundation that supports better prosthetic fit and reduces post-extraction discomfort.

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Extractions & Removal Procedures

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Third molars — wisdom teeth — are the last permanent teeth to erupt, typically in the late teens or early twenties. Because most modern jaws don’t have room for them, wisdom teeth frequently become impacted: trapped against neighboring teeth, partially erupted, or positioned at angles that make them impossible to clean properly.

Impacted wisdom teeth can cause crowding, infection, cyst formation, and damage to adjacent teeth. Surgical removal by a board-certified oral surgeon is generally recommended before these complications develop. AZ Max performs wisdom tooth extractions under in-office sedation, making the procedure comfortable and recovery faster.

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Tooth Extractions

Not every tooth can or should be saved. When a tooth is too damaged by decay, fracture, or infection to be restored, or when teeth need to be removed to address crowding or prepare for orthodontic treatment, surgical extraction is the appropriate course. AZ Max performs both simple and complex surgical extractions, including teeth that are broken at the gum line or have fused to the surrounding bone.

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Frenectomy

A frenectomy is the removal or release of the frenum — the small band of soft tissue connecting the lip to the gum or the tongue to the floor of the mouth. A tight or restrictive frenum (sometimes called a lip tie or tongue tie) can interfere with breastfeeding in infants, affect speech development in children, or create gum recession issues in adults. AZ Max performs both lingual and labial frenectomies.

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Jaw & Facial Surgery

Orthognathic (Jaw) Surgery

Orthognathic surgery corrects significant skeletal discrepancies between the upper jaw (maxilla), lower jaw (mandible), or both. These discrepancies can cause problems that braces alone cannot fix: severe overbite or underbite, difficulty chewing or speaking, chronic jaw pain, sleep apnea related to jaw position, and facial asymmetry.

The procedure repositions the jawbones to their correct alignment, typically after orthodontic preparation. AZ Max surgeons have extensive experience in orthognathic cases and work in close coordination with the patient’s orthodontist throughout the treatment process.

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TMJ Arthroscopy

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your lower jaw to your skull and is one of the most complex joints in the body. When it malfunctions — due to injury, grinding, arthritis, or disc displacement — patients can experience chronic jaw pain, clicking or locking, headaches, and difficulty opening their mouth fully.

TMJ arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical approach that uses a small camera and instruments inserted through tiny incisions to diagnose and treat TMJ disorders. It involves less surgical trauma than open joint surgery, a shorter recovery time, and can address problems that have not responded to conservative management.

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Diagnostics & Pathology

Oral Diagnosis & Biopsies

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are trained to identify lesions, abnormalities, and pathological changes in the mouth, jaw, and surrounding facial tissues that may not be visible to a general dentist. This includes ulcerations, color changes, unusual growths, and cystic formations.

When a lesion requires further evaluation, an oral biopsy allows a tissue sample to be sent for laboratory analysis. Early detection of oral cancer significantly improves treatment outcomes — making regular oral examination by a trained surgeon a genuinely important part of preventive care.

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Sedation & Anesthesia

Sedation Dentistry & Anesthesia Options

Dental anxiety is one of the most common reasons people delay necessary oral surgery — and one of the most treatable. AZ Max offers multiple levels of sedation at every location, administered by the surgeon, not a separate provider:

Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) — mild relaxation for shorter procedures
Oral conscious sedation — prescription medication taken before your appointment
IV sedation — deeper relaxation; you remain responsive but have little memory of the procedure
General anesthesia — full unconsciousness for complex or lengthy surgical cases

All AZ Max surgeons hold hospital privileges and carry full anesthesia training, which is not true of all oral surgery practices. This matters: when your surgeon is also managing your anesthesia, communication is seamless and response to any change in your status is immediate.

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Why Choose AZ Max for Your Oral Surgery Procedure?

Board Certification — Not Optional Here

Every AZ Max surgeon holds board certification from the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS). Achieving and maintaining ABOMS certification requires passing rigorous written and oral clinical examinations and ongoing continuing education. It is the gold standard credential in the specialty, and at AZ Max it is a baseline requirement, not a differentiator.

One Surgeon, Your Entire Treatment

Your AZ Max surgeon manages your care from the initial consultation through your final follow-up appointment. You won’t be handed off to a different provider between your imaging visit and your surgery date. The same person who reviewed your CBCT scan, explained your options, and answered your questions is the one performing your procedure.

In-House Anesthesia at Every Location

AZ Max surgeons are fully trained and licensed to administer IV sedation and general anesthesia in-office. You don’t need a separate anesthesiologist appointment or a hospital outpatient facility for complex procedures. This keeps scheduling simpler, costs more predictable, and care more coordinated.

30+ Years Serving Arizona Patients

AZ Max has been part of Arizona’s dental community since 1994. The practice has grown from one East Valley office to five Arizona locations because patients keep referring their family members and their general dentists keep sending their most complex cases here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know which procedure I need?

In most cases, either your general dentist has already recommended a specific procedure and referred you to us, or you’ve started to research options on your own after experiencing a problem. Either way, the best starting point is a consultation with one of our board-certified surgeons. We’ll review your X-rays, examine your oral health, discuss your concerns, and give you an honest recommendation — with no pressure to proceed on any particular timeline.

Do I need a referral to see an AZ Max surgeon?

No. You’re welcome to call (480) 830-5866 or book online directly without a referral. Many of our patients self-refer after a recommendation from a friend or after searching for a specialist in their area. If your general dentist did refer you, we’ll coordinate your care with them throughout your treatment.

Are dental implants covered by insurance?

Coverage for dental implants varies significantly by plan. Some dental insurance policies cover a portion of implant placement; others categorize implants as cosmetic and exclude them entirely. Medical insurance may cover implants in cases where tooth loss resulted from an accident or medical condition. AZ Max’s front desk team will verify your benefits before your first appointment and provide a clear cost estimate so you can plan accordingly. Financing options are also available.

What is the difference between IV sedation and general anesthesia?

IV sedation produces a deeply relaxed, twilight-like state. You remain technically conscious and can respond to simple requests, but most patients have little to no memory of the procedure afterward. General anesthesia produces complete unconsciousness and is typically reserved for the most complex or lengthy surgical cases. Both are administered by AZ Max surgeons at every location — no separate anesthesiologist required.

How long is recovery after oral surgery?

Recovery time varies depending on the procedure. A single tooth extraction typically involves 2–3 days of soreness and dietary restriction. Wisdom tooth removal may require 3–5 days of recovery for straightforward cases and up to a week for complex impactions. Jaw surgery recovery is measured in weeks to months. Your surgeon will give you a specific, personalized recovery timeline and post-operative care instructions at your consultation or on the day of your procedure.

Can I be sedated for a routine tooth extraction?

Yes. Sedation is available for any AZ Max procedure, not just complex surgical cases. Many patients with dental anxiety choose IV sedation even for procedures that are relatively straightforward. Talk to your surgeon during your consultation — there’s no threshold of procedure complexity you need to meet before sedation is an option.

What if I’ve been told I don’t have enough bone for implants?

Bone loss is common and treatable. Dental bone grafting can rebuild the jaw’s foundation over a healing period, after which implants can typically be placed. Our surgeons also use angled implant techniques — including All-on-4® — that can work around areas of reduced bone density. If you’ve been told implants aren’t possible for you, a second opinion from an AZ Max surgeon may reveal options you haven’t yet been presented with.