Paul R. Friedman DDS in Baltimore: Oral Surgery with Surgical Extraction and Implant Focus

Paul R. Friedman DDS is a private oral surgery practice in Baltimore specializing in tooth extractions, implant placement, and bone grafting for patients referred from primary dentists across the region. Unlike general dentists who perform only routine extractions, an oral surgeon at this scale handles complex surgical cases, damaged impacted teeth, and pre-implant bone work that requires advanced anesthesia and surgical technique.

Services and Sedation Options

Friedman's practice offers extractions ranging from simple removals to surgical extractions of impacted or fractured teeth, dental implant surgery (placement of the titanium root and bone grafting when needed), and bone augmentation for patients with insufficient jaw volume. Pricing varies sharply by procedure complexity. A basic extraction in a surgical setting typically runs $200 to $500; surgical extraction of an impacted tooth ranges $400 to $1,200 depending on depth and position. Implant placement alone (excluding the crown work done later by a general dentist) generally costs $1,500 to $3,000 per implant; bone grafting adds $300 to $1,000. Verify current fees when booking, as surgical implant pricing shifts with material and anesthesia choices.

Sedation options include local anesthesia alone, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for anxiety, IV sedation for deeper sedation during longer cases, and general anesthesia for the most complex work. Patients who cannot tolerate needles or need extensive work often choose IV sedation; those with needle phobia or who want to remain conscious usually select nitrous. The choice affects both procedure cost and recovery time.

Referral and Access

Oral surgeons in Baltimore operate almost entirely on referral. Your general dentist assesses whether a tooth requires extraction or if an implant is a suitable option, then refers you to a surgical specialist. Unlike walk-in urgent dental clinics, Friedman does not serve patients without a dentist's recommendation. This gate-keeping reflects both malpractice insurance norms and the pre-surgical planning needed for complex cases.

How Friedman Compares Locally

Baltimore's oral surgery landscape includes group practices (Chesapeake Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery on the Harbor East/Canton border, which offers same-day implant placement in some cases and evening hours) and solo practitioners like Friedman. Group practices typically handle higher-acuity trauma and reconstruction; solo practices often focus on routine extractions and implants for patients comfortable with single-surgeon continuity. Chesapeake's network structure may offer faster scheduling during peak months; Friedman's smaller footprint often means more personalized pre-op consultation. If you have severe jaw trauma or need maxillofacial reconstruction (not just implants), a larger group practice is standard. For straightforward extractions or implant placement with an established relationship, a solo surgeon may be preferable.

Who This Practice Suits and Who It Does Not

Friedman's practice suits patients with one or two teeth needing extraction or implant work, those who prefer a single surgeon over multiple clinicians, and referral patients comfortable with the referral-based model. It does not serve patients seeking periodontal cleaning (gum disease treatment, which stays with a general or perio dentist), those needing emergency same-day extraction without prior dentist referral, or patients unable to tolerate surgical sedation or waiting 1 to 2 weeks for scheduling.

First Visit and What to Expect

After your dentist's referral, you will receive a call to schedule a consultation. You will arrive 15 minutes early to complete surgical history and consent forms, noting allergies, medications, and previous sedation experiences. The surgeon will review X-rays, examine the tooth or implant site, discuss the procedure step-by-step, and address anesthesia choice. Budget 60 to 90 minutes for a new-patient extraction consultation; implant work often requires a second visit after bone grafting or if extensive bone measurement is needed. The surgeon will set a procedure date and give pre-op instructions (fasting if sedated, medication adjustments, wound-care expectations). Most patients return home the same day and take prescribed pain relief and antibiotics.

Hours, Location, and Logistics

Paul R. Friedman DDS operates from a surgical suite in Baltimore; specific hours and parking vary by location. Confirm the exact address and lot/street parking situation when you receive your referral appointment time. Most oral surgery offices ask patients to arrange a driver when sedated, as you cannot drive for 24 hours after IV or general anesthesia. Verify current hours and whether evening or Saturday slots are available for your preferred procedure date.

Paul R. Friedman's practice fills a necessary niche in Baltimore's dental referral chain, bridging the gap between general dentistry and hospital-based maxillofacial surgery for patients who need surgical extraction or implant expertise without the trauma-center overhead.