Turner William C Jr DDS in Chattanooga: Oral Surgery with Sedation Options and Implant Services
Turner William C Jr DDS is a solo oral surgery practice in Chattanooga focused on tooth extractions, dental implants, and oral surgical procedures with on-site sedation capability. The practice sits in the mid-market segment of the city's oral surgery landscape, offering both routine and complex cases without requiring referral to a hospital facility for most procedures.
What Turner William C Jr DDS actually does
Dr. Turner operates an independent oral surgery office handling the full range of extraction procedures, from simple to surgical, along with implant placement and bone grafting when needed. The practice uses local anesthesia as standard and offers conscious sedation (IV sedation) for anxious patients or longer procedures, a service that eliminates the need for hospital-based surgery for most cases. The office does not perform orthognathic surgery or extensive reconstructive work; patients needing jaw repositioning are referred elsewhere. Unlike general dentists who refer extractions out, this practice keeps the work in-house, which reduces the number of visits required for tooth removal before implant or denture work.
Extraction and implant procedures, sedation, and referral requirements
Dr. Turner extracts teeth across the severity spectrum. Simple extractions, where the tooth is fully erupted and loosened, typically cost between $150 and $300 per tooth; surgical extractions, needed when bone must be removed or the tooth is impacted, run $400 to $800. Implant placement—the surgical insertion of a titanium screw into the jawbone—costs between $1,500 and $2,500 per implant, not including the crown or abutment placed by a restorative dentist later. Bone grafting, required when the jaw lacks sufficient height or width, adds $500 to $1,500 depending on material and volume. Verify current fees at the office, as surgical supply costs can shift.
Conscious sedation is available for patients who cannot tolerate surgery awake. IV sedation is charged separately from the procedure itself, typically $300 to $600 for a session, and allows the patient to be partially alert but deeply relaxed. Patients cannot drive themselves home and must arrange transportation. General anesthesia is not available in the office; only local anesthesia with or without IV sedation.
Referrals from a general dentist are common but not required. A patient can call directly for a consultation, particularly if they have already been evaluated by their dentist and referred. If an impacted wisdom tooth or failed implant exceeds the scope of in-office care, Dr. Turner refers to an oral surgery center or hospital-based surgeon.
How Turner William C Jr DDS compares to other Chattanooga oral surgeons
Chattanooga has a small number of dedicated oral surgeons. Other in-office options include Oral Surgery Associates (a multi-provider group practice) and specialists within larger dental groups. The key practical difference is scale: a solo practice like Dr. Turner's typically offers shorter wait times for routine extractions and implants, since scheduling is not juggled across multiple surgeons. A larger group may have more evening or Saturday hours and can absorb higher demand but may have longer waits during busy seasons.
Patients who need hospital-based sedation or general anesthesia, as well as those with severe medically complex histories, benefit from a surgery center or hospital partnership; Dr. Turner's office is better suited to straightforward cases. Patients who want continuity with one surgeon and faster appointments often prefer a solo practice.
Who it suits and who it does not
Dr. Turner's practice is best for patients undergoing straightforward tooth removal, implant placement in normal bone anatomy, or simple grafting. Patients with dental anxiety who respond well to IV sedation find the office-based setting more convenient than a hospital. Those whose dentist has already diagnosed the need for extraction or implant benefit from a direct referral to surgery without additional evaluation steps.
The practice is not ideal for patients needing general anesthesia, those with complex medical histories that require a hospital setting, or those with severe bone loss or failed implants that demand advanced reconstructive surgery. Younger children seeking tooth extraction under heavy sedation may be referred elsewhere, as pediatric surgical cases often require deeper anesthesia than the office provides.
What the first visit involves
A new patient calls to schedule a consultation, not an extraction. During this appointment, Dr. Turner examines the tooth or implant site, reviews any imaging (X-rays or a CT scan from the referring dentist), and discusses the surgical plan, sedation options, and cost. The patient learns what to expect before and after surgery, including dietary restrictions, activity limits, and medication use. At this visit, the office staff confirms insurance benefits and explains any out-of-pocket cost. If sedation is planned, the patient must provide a valid driver's license for someone to pick them up, and complete a health questionnaire so anesthesia can be tailored safely.
Hours, parking, and logistics
The office is located in Chattanooga with standard business hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (call to confirm current hours, as surgical practices sometimes adjust for case volume). The office is accessible by car with parking on-site. Most procedures take 30 minutes to two hours depending on complexity. Post-operative swelling peaks within 24 to 48 hours; patients are advised to avoid strenuous activity for one week after extraction and two to three weeks after implant placement.
Turner William C Jr DDS fills a straightforward niche: routine and intermediate oral surgery without the overhead or wait times of a multi-provider group, and without the hospital barrier of extensive sedation. For Chattanooga patients whose dentist has identified extraction or implant as the next step, it is a practical local resource.
