Heather Ruland, DDS, in Baltimore: Surgical Extractions and Implant Placement

Heather Ruland, DDS, is an oral surgeon in Baltimore who performs tooth extractions, implant placement, bone grafting, and wisdom tooth removal under sedation. She operates as a single-practitioner office, meaning shorter wait times than large group practices but a narrower on-site scope; complex surgical cases that exceed her expertise are referred to other specialists, and patients recover under her direct post-operative protocol.

What Heather Ruland, DDS actually does

Ruland holds a DDS degree and provides oral surgical procedures that fall between general dentistry and hospital-based maxillofacial surgery. She does not perform orthognathic surgery (jaw repositioning), significant facial reconstruction, or management of severe trauma; cases like these go to Johns Hopkins or University of Maryland oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Her focus is the extractions and implant work that general dentists refer and patients request after consultation.

Procedures, sedation, and pricing

Ruland's most common procedures are simple extractions (uncomplicated removals), surgical extractions (impacted or deeply rooted teeth), and implant placement. Pricing for simple extractions in Baltimore ranges from $150 to $350 per tooth depending on complexity; Ruland's rates fall within this band but should be confirmed directly. Implant placement (the surgical insertion of the titanium post only; crown and abutment are handled by a separate dentist) typically costs $1,500 to $2,500 in the Baltimore region. Bone grafting, when a patient lacks sufficient jawbone to support an implant, runs an additional $400 to $1,200.

Sedation options include local anesthesia only or nitrous oxide combined with local anesthesia. General anesthesia (the deeper sedation required for extensive wisdom tooth surgery on anxious patients) is not available in her office; those cases go to an operating room setting at a hospital or surgical center. Patients undergoing deep sedation must arrange a driver and clear three to six hours.

How Ruland compares to other Baltimore oral surgeons

Baltimore's oral surgery landscape includes single-practitioner offices (like Ruland's), group practices (e.g., Maryland Oral Surgery Associates, which operates multiple locations), and hospital-affiliated surgeons at Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland. Maryland Oral Surgery Associates can schedule more complex cases and coordinate with multiple surgeons; they typically have longer wait lists. Ruland's advantage is faster appointment availability for routine work and a consistent provider who sees you through recovery. A patient needing wisdom teeth removed on a tight timeline may book sooner with Ruland than with a larger group; a patient with multiple extractions plus grafting and implants may benefit from the resources and cross-specialty referrals of an urban group practice.

University-based surgeons accept complex cases, insurance-challenged patients, and trainees seeking supervision; they also manage emergencies and post-operative complications at no additional facility charge. Ruland is the right choice for straightforward surgical extractions and implant placement in a private office setting with continuity of care.

Who this office suits and does not suit

Ruland suits patients needing straightforward tooth removal or implant placement, those with anxiety managed by nitrous oxide, and those who value a long-term relationship with one surgeon. She does not suit patients requiring general anesthesia for fear, severe impaction, or complex bone reconstruction. Patients with multiple medical comorbidities (uncontrolled diabetes, severe cardiac disease, bleeding disorders) should have intake discussion; some cases are safer in a hospital setting.

What a first visit involves

Most patients arrive via referral from their general dentist. The initial appointment includes oral examination, X-rays (often a panoramic image of the entire jaw), and discussion of the procedure, anesthesia choice, cost, and recovery. If the patient has not had recent blood work and is over 50 or has significant health history, that may be requested. Written consent is signed. The surgical appointment is usually scheduled within two to four weeks.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Office hours and specific location confirmation are essential before scheduling; contact Ruland directly to confirm current availability and address. Parking depends on the office's neighborhood location in Baltimore. Post-operative instructions typically include ice on the first day, soft diet for one week, and avoidance of smoking and straw use for at least five days. Follow-up happens at one week and six weeks for extractions; implant patients have follow-ups at one week, six months, and one year to confirm osseointegration (bone fusion with the implant).

Ruland's single-doctor model and focus on bread-and-butter surgical cases make her a reliable choice for Baltimore patients whose dentists have referred them and whose needs fall within the routine end of the extraction and implant spectrum.