Herlevic David DDS in Chattanooga: Oral Surgeon for Extractions and Implants
Herlevic David DDS is an oral surgeon in Chattanooga who performs tooth extractions, implant placement, and wisdom tooth removal. The practice functions as a surgical specialist within the broader dental ecosystem, meaning most patients arrive by referral from a general dentist rather than as walk-ins seeking routine care.
What Herlevic David DDS Actually Offers
Oral surgery requires different training and equipment than general dentistry. A DDS with an oral surgery focus completes four additional years of hospital-based surgical residency after dental school, learning to manage complex extractions, bone grafting, and anesthesia in an operating environment. Herlevic brings this credential to Chattanooga residents who need procedures general dentists typically refer out.
The practice handles the full range of surgical extraction cases: teeth too damaged or deeply rooted for chairside removal, wisdom teeth impacted at angles that require bone removal, and tooth removal as part of implant planning. Implant placement, in which a titanium post is anchored into the jaw to serve as an artificial tooth root, represents the other primary service line. Some oral surgeons also offer bone grafting and sinus lifts when the jaw lacks sufficient volume for implant stability, though the scope of any individual practice varies.
Procedures, Sedation Options, and What to Expect
Extractions range from straightforward removals of loose teeth to surgical cases requiring bone work. Surgical extractions typically cost more than simple extractions because they demand more time and expertise. Many Chattanooga patients expect to pay $150 to $300 for a straightforward extraction at a general dentist, but surgical extraction at a specialist office often runs $400 to $800 depending on complexity.
Implant placement costs $1,500 to $3,000 per implant in the Chattanooga market, not including the crown that attaches to the implant post later (an additional $1,000 to $2,500) or bone grafting if needed ($500 to $1,500). Verify current fees with the office, as surgical fees fluctuate with material and supplier costs.
Sedation options distinguish specialist practices from general dentistry. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) calms anxiety but leaves you awake. IV sedation, administered by a trained anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist, ranges from light sedation (conscious but relaxed) to deep sedation (near sleep). General anesthesia, where you are fully unconscious, is offered in hospital settings and some surgical centers but is rarer in office-based practices. Ask during your consultation whether sedation is included in the quoted fee or billed separately; anesthesia adds $300 to $1,000 depending on depth and duration.
How Herlevic David DDS Compares to Other Chattanooga Oral Surgeons
Chattanooga has several oral surgery options. Comparisons depend on referral network, sedation capability, and whether the practice offers implant restoration in-house or requires a separate general dentist to place the crown.
Some practices, including hospital-affiliated oral surgeons at Erlanger Health or Tennova, handle trauma and complex surgical cases and often serve as the referral destination for high-risk patients or those requiring general anesthesia in a controlled setting. These tend to have longer wait times for routine cases because emergency patients take priority. Private practices like Herlevic David DDS typically offer faster scheduling for planned extractions and implants and may have more flexible sedation protocols for anxious patients who prefer not to go to a hospital.
Choose Herlevic David DDS or a similar private specialist practice if your dentist has already determined you need extraction or implant surgery and you want a surgeon who offers in-office sedation and a shorter booking timeline. Choose a hospital-affiliated surgeon if your case is complex (severe bone loss, medical complications, or previous failed implants) or if your general dentist specifically refers you there.
Who This Practice Suits
Patients referred by their Chattanooga dentist for extraction or implant placement are the core audience. Adults missing one or more teeth and wanting a fixed replacement (as opposed to dentures or a bridge) fit the implant patient profile. Those with impacted wisdom teeth, teeth too fractured or infected for extraction by a general dentist, or teeth requiring bone removal benefit from a surgical specialist.
This practice does not suit patients seeking routine cleanings, fillings, or cosmetic whitening, which remain general dentistry services. Patients without a referral may face a consultation fee ($100 to $300 depending on the office) before scheduling surgery; some specialists require an initial evaluation and imaging before quoting a procedure cost.
The First Visit and Referral Process
Most patients arrive with a referral from their general dentist or periodontist, who has taken X-rays or assessed the tooth and determined surgery is necessary. Bring those records to your appointment. If you are arriving without a referral, the oral surgeon's office will conduct a new examination, take imaging (typically a 3D cone-beam CT scan for implant cases, which costs $150 to $400), and discuss findings and options.
The consultation includes a detailed discussion of sedation preference, medical history review, and cost breakdown. Implant cases often require bone density assessment, which the 3D scan provides. Ask whether the fee quote covers the surgical component only or includes post-operative care and follow-up. Extraction appointments are typically shorter (30 minutes to 1 hour) than implant surgery (2 to 3 hours), and recovery varies: simple extractions may feel nearly normal within a few days, while surgical extractions and implants require a week or more of reduced activity.
Hours, Location, and Logistics
Contact the office to confirm current hours and parking. Chattanooga practices vary in appointment availability; some book routine extractions within 1 to 2 weeks, while implant cases may have a 2 to 4 week lead time depending on surgical schedule. If you are having IV sedation, arrange a driver, as you cannot operate a vehicle for 24 hours afterward.
Herlevic David DDS occupies a clinical niche that general dentists cannot fill and represents a necessary referral step for many Chattanooga patients facing tooth loss or surgical removal. Choosing a local specialist with clear fee disclosure and sedation options removes friction from an already stressful procedure.
