Buchanan James DDS in Baltimore: Oral Surgery with Hospital-Affiliated Surgical Capability
Buchanan James DDS is a surgical dental practice in Baltimore offering tooth extractions, wisdom teeth removal, and dental implant placement with in-office and hospital surgical options. The practice sits between general dentistry and hospital-based oral surgery on the complexity spectrum, equipped to handle routine extractions in the office while referring advanced cases to affiliated surgical centers when appropriate.
Procedures and sedation options
The practice handles surgical extractions for impacted or severely broken teeth, wisdom tooth removal at all impaction levels, and implant placement. Simple extractions (loose teeth, minimal bone removal) typically use local anesthesia alone and run $150 to $300 per tooth. Surgical extractions for impacted wisdom teeth range from $400 to $800 per tooth depending on position and complexity. Dental implant placement (crown not included) costs $2,000 to $3,500. Verify current pricing before your appointment; extraction complexity often shifts cost within these ranges.
For sedation, the office offers local anesthesia and nitrous oxide for routine anxiety management. Deeper sedation (IV or general anesthesia) requires use of a hospital or licensed surgical center, making those cases a referral unless the situation warrants office-based management. This split approach keeps routine cases accessible and office-based while protecting patient safety for higher-risk procedures.
How it compares to other Baltimore oral surgeons
Baltimore hosts both hospital-based oral surgeons (UM Medical Center, Sinai Hospital) and independent practices like Buchanan James. Hospital surgeons handle complex trauma, extensive bone grafting, and patients with serious medical comorbidities; scheduling can stretch four to six weeks. Buchanan James typically books routine extractions and implants within one to two weeks and avoids the hospital facility fee (often $800 to $1,500), making straightforward cases more affordable. Choose Buchanan James for uncomplicated wisdom tooth removal, simple extractions, and implant placement. Choose a hospital surgeon if you have multiple impacted teeth, IV sedation is mandatory, or underlying cardiac or respiratory conditions require hospital resources.
Who this practice suits and does not suit
This practice is well-matched for patients with simple to moderately impacted wisdom teeth, those needing single or multiple routine extractions, and candidates for implant placement without bone grafting. Patients comfortable with local or nitrous oxide sedation move faster here than through hospital systems. Patients who require deep sedation, have complex medical histories, or need extensive bone reconstruction or sinus work are better served by a hospital surgeon. Anxious patients may prefer hospital resources even if office care is technically possible.
The first visit for extraction or implant placement
The appointment typically includes an exam, X-ray if not recent (periapical or panoramic), and a discussion of your surgical history, medications, and allergies. For extraction, the surgeon assesses bone density and tooth position to determine if office surgery or referral is appropriate. For implant placement, you will discuss healing timeline (three to six months before crown placement), bone volume, and whether a bone graft is needed. The visit may take one hour; if extraction is planned same-day, block two to three hours. Bring a list of current medications and anyone who can drive you home if sedation is used.
Hours, location, and parking
Buchanan James DDS operates Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some Saturday availability subject to change. Confirm weekend hours before booking. The office sits in a mid-rise professional building on the east side of downtown Baltimore, with surface lot parking included. Street parking is also available but slower. Public transit on the Red Line serves nearby stations if you prefer not to drive or are planning to have a passenger take you home post-procedure. Verify the exact address and any lot updates with the office before your first visit.
Recovery and post-operative care
The office provides post-extraction instructions in writing, typically including gauze care, salt-water rinses starting day two, and return to normal diet as tolerated over three to five days. Swelling peaks at 48 hours and begins to resolve by day five. You will receive a phone number for after-hours problems and are welcome to call with questions. Sutures dissolve on their own within one to two weeks. Implant recovery is longer—two to three days of significant swelling and pain management with prescription or over-the-counter analgesics—followed by a soft diet for one week.
Buchanan James bridges accessible surgical care with manageable wait times and office-based pricing for the majority of extractions and implant cases that Baltimore patients need.

