Donald B. Lurie DDS in Baltimore: Oral Surgeon for Extractions and Implants

Donald B. Lurie DDS is a solo oral surgery practice in Baltimore specializing in tooth extractions, dental implant placement, and surgical management of impacted teeth. The practice sits in the network of Baltimore-area oral surgeons who handle referrals from general dentists and accepts both insurance and self-pay patients.

What the practice handles

Lurie's scope includes routine and complex extractions, third-molar (wisdom tooth) removal, implant planning and placement, and bone-grafting procedures that support implant integration. The practice does not advertise cosmetic or reconstructive jaw surgery. Sedation options include local anesthesia, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), and IV sedation, with the choice depending on procedure complexity and patient anxiety level. Patients are typically referred by their general dentist, though some practices accept self-referred patients seeking a surgical consultation. Verify current sedation availability and candidacy before booking.

Pricing and sedation considerations

Oral surgery fees vary sharply by procedure and sedation type. A simple extraction under local anesthesia costs less than a surgical removal of an impacted wisdom tooth with IV sedation. IV sedation itself carries an additional charge, usually in the $300 to $500 range depending on duration. Implant placement fees run higher, often $1,500 to $3,000 per implant, and do not include the implant crown, which adds $1,200 to $2,500 at a separate restorative appointment. Insurance coverage depends on your plan; many cover extractions and bone grafts but not elective implants. Confirm your deductible, annual maximum, and implant coverage with your insurer before the first visit. Self-pay patients should ask about package pricing if multiple procedures are planned.

How Lurie compares to other Baltimore oral surgeons

Baltimore has several established oral surgery practices. Mercy Medical Center and University of Maryland Medical Center both operate oral surgery services for complex cases, trauma, and hospital-based anesthesia, and they typically require referral through an ED or specialty department. University of Maryland's dental school clinic also offers surgical services at a lower cost for patients willing to accept teaching resident involvement and longer appointment times. Lurie's model as a private solo practice sits between: less overhead than a hospital department (potentially lower out-of-pocket cost for self-pay patients), but without hospital OR access for the most complex reconstructive cases. Choose Lurie if you need routine-to-moderately-complex extractions or implant surgery with faster appointment availability. Choose a hospital-based service if your case involves facial trauma, reconstruction, or complex anesthesia needs.

First-visit process

A surgical consultation involves medical and dental history review, imaging (typically a panoramic X-ray or CBCT scan for implant cases), assessment of the tooth or implant site, and discussion of sedation options. Allow 60 to 90 minutes. The surgeon will explain bone volume and quality (relevant for implant placement), discuss healing expectations, and outline post-operative restrictions: no smoking for at least 72 hours (much longer for implant healing), limited activity for one week, and specific dietary guidelines. If sedation is planned, you must arrange a driver; you cannot operate a vehicle the same day. Extraction sites typically require bone grafting if an implant is planned, adding cost and extending the timeline. Implant placement itself takes 30 to 45 minutes, but implant integration (osseointegration) requires three to six months before a crown can be placed.

Who suits this practice, and who does not

Lurie suits patients with straightforward extractions, impacted wisdom teeth, or implant needs who have access to reliable transportation and time for healing. Self-pay patients should confirm pricing in advance. Patients with severe medical comorbidities (uncontrolled diabetes, immunosuppression, bisphosphonate therapy) should discuss surgical risk at the consultation; hospital-based care may be safer. Patients needing hospital anesthesia, sedation monitoring in an operating room, or complex jaw reconstruction should be referred to a hospital service. Very anxious patients may find Lurie's IV sedation option adequate, but anxiety-related delays or need for general anesthesia argue for hospital-based care.

Hours, location, and parking

Verify current hours and address before booking, as solo practices sometimes change location or consolidate with larger group practices. Street parking or small office parking is typical for standalone practices in Baltimore. Ask when you call whether same-day parking is available near the entrance, especially important if you are receiving IV sedation and will be medicated at departure.

Donald B. Lurie DDS fills the middle ground in Baltimore oral surgery: accessible, private-practice speed and pricing, without the hospital overhead or complexity of a medical center. For routine and moderately complex extractions and implant cases, it remains a reliable referral destination.