Hixson Implant & Oral Surgery in Chattanooga: Surgical Extraction and Implant Placement for Referred Patients

Hixson Implant & Oral Surgery is a specialist practice performing tooth extractions, implant placement, and jaw surgery in the Hixson area north of Chattanooga, operating primarily on referral from general dentists and other providers across the city's dental network.

What the practice handles

The office focuses on surgical procedures that general dentists typically refer out. Core services include simple and impacted tooth extractions, implant placement (the surgical stage where the titanium root is anchored into bone), bone grafting for implant cases with insufficient jaw structure, and wisdom tooth removal. The practice also performs jaw reconstruction and correction of bite problems, though implant surgery and extraction form the bulk of the volume. Patients do not walk in; they arrive by referral with a surgical plan already drafted by their general dentist.

Procedures, sedation, and cost structure

Extraction costs in Chattanooga oral surgery practices typically range from $200 to $500 per tooth for simple extractions and $500 to $1,500 for impacted wisdom teeth, depending on complexity; verify current pricing by calling ahead, as surgical fees adjust periodically. Implant placement costs separately from the implant crown itself: the surgical placement of the implant body usually runs $1,500 to $3,000 per implant, with bone grafting adding $500 to $2,000 if necessary.

Sedation options affect the total cost and experience. Local anesthesia with nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is standard and reduces anxiety for most patients. IV sedation, where a trained anesthesiologist or nurse administers medication through a vein, runs $300 to $800 per visit and is appropriate for longer procedures, multiple extractions, or patients with high anxiety. General anesthesia under an anesthesiologist is available for complex cases but carries the highest cost and is typically reserved for extensive surgical plans.

Insurance coverage for extractions is often high (50 to 80 percent) since extraction is frequently deemed necessary. Implant placement coverage varies dramatically: some plans cover the surgical placement but exclude the final crown; others exclude implants entirely and classify them as cosmetic. Clarify your plan's language before surgery.

How Hixson Implant compares to other Chattanooga surgical options

Chattanooga has multiple oral surgeons in private practice across the area. Associates in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, also in the greater Chattanooga region, handles similar extractions and implant work and is another referral-based practice. The practical difference often lies in referral network: your dentist may have standing relationships with one practice, making coordination smoother, and wait times to see an established referral provider usually run 2 to 4 weeks. Choose based on which practice your dentist recommends and which accepts your insurance; most oral surgeons in Chattanooga are in-network with major plans.

Who this practice suits and who it does not

Hixson Implant is designed for patients with a referred surgical need: someone whose general dentist has determined extraction or implant placement is the appropriate next step. It suits patients requiring sedation or anxious about oral surgery, since the practice routinely coordinates anesthesia care. It does not suit patients seeking cosmetic bonding, teeth whitening, or initial dental diagnosis; these belong with a general dentist.

What the first visit involves

Your general dentist will send radiographs and a referral noting which teeth require extraction or the implant site to be prepared. At the surgical appointment, the oral surgeon will review imaging, discuss anesthesia options, confirm the plan, and answer questions about recovery. If you are proceeding the same day, you will be taken back for surgery after consent; if it is a consultation-only visit, scheduling and pre-operative instructions follow. Bring photo ID, insurance card, and a list of current medications. Plan for someone to drive you home if receiving IV sedation or general anesthesia; you will not be permitted to operate a vehicle for 24 hours afterward.

Hours, location, and logistics

The Hixson location serves the north side of Chattanooga, accessible from Hixson Pike. Parking is available on-site. Verify current hours and confirm the specific street address by calling directly before your appointment; office hours in surgical practices often reflect surgical schedules and may vary. Recovery from extraction is 3 to 5 days for simple cases and 1 to 2 weeks for impacted teeth; implant placement recovery is typically 3 to 5 days before basic activity resumes.

Hixson Implant & Oral Surgery operates in a well-established gap in Chattanooga dental care, providing surgical expertise that most patients cannot access through general dentistry alone, with demonstrated experience coordinating anesthesia for patients who need it.