Sometimes an implant needs a secure foundation, or the gums have receded so far that the necks of the teeth are exposed. Sometimes a tooth can only be saved with a surgical procedure. That is when experience counts, and so does the way the surgery is performed. In our practice, these procedures are carried out by Dr. Ralf Quirin, specialist in oral surgery, using fine microsurgical instruments and as gently on the tissue as possible. His focus in oral surgery in Freiburg is on implants and gum corrections. As your dentist in Freiburg, we look after you from planning to aftercare, all under one roof.
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Oral surgery covers surgical procedures in the oral cavity and on the jawbone. It is one of the few fields of dentistry with its own specialist title: only those who have completed several years of further training with a final examination after their degree may call themselves a specialist in oral surgery (Fachzahnarzt für Oralchirurgie). An oral surgeon therefore combines dental knowledge with sound surgical training.
An implant replaces the root of a lost tooth and supports a crown, a bridge or a denture. To hold firmly in the long term, it has to sit in the right place in the bone. This is exactly where oral surgery comes in.
Before placing an implant, we plan with digital volume tomography (DVT), a three-dimensional X-ray. It shows how much bone is available and where the nerves and the maxillary sinus are located. This allows us to determine the position, length and angle of each implant before the procedure begins.
If the jawbone has receded after tooth loss or periodontitis, bone augmentation may be necessary. It creates the basis for an implant to heal in securely. Whether this is needed, and to what extent, we can see in the three-dimensional scan.
If all teeth in a jaw are missing or the remaining ones can no longer be saved, a fixed row of teeth on four implants can be a solution – the All-on-4® method.
You can read more about implant treatment in general, the procedure and the materials on our dental implants page.
Gums can recede for various reasons: after periodontitis, after tooth loss, due to clenching and grinding, or from brushing too hard. The exposed necks of the teeth are often sensitive, and the gum line looks uneven. Microsurgical procedures on the gums can often correct such changes.
In aesthetic periodontal surgery, the gum is shifted or supplemented with the patient’s own tissue so that it covers exposed tooth necks again. The aim is an even, natural gum line and protection for the sensitive tooth necks.
Periodontitis can break down the bone around the teeth. In regenerative periodontal surgery, these defects are treated specifically so that bone and tissue can form again. The prerequisite is that the inflammation has been treated beforehand.
Since 2000, Dr. Quirin has been a specialist in periodontology of the German Society of Periodontology (DGParo). This is why surgery and gum treatment are in one pair of hands at our practice.
In addition to implants and gum corrections, we carry out the following procedures, among others:
Preserving teeth is our priority: where it makes sense, we try to save a tooth before removing it.
A surgical procedure should achieve as much as necessary and injure as little tissue as possible.
In microsurgery, we work with particularly fine instruments and magnification. This keeps incisions small and allows wounds to be sutured precisely. This is particularly important for gum corrections, as well as for an apicoectomy: if successful, the tooth can be preserved without the crown having to be removed or the tooth having to be ground down.
Before larger procedures, we plan with digital volume tomography (DVT). It shows bone, the course of nerves and the position of roots more precisely than a conventional X-ray. This way we know what to expect before the procedure.
Oral surgery procedures are performed by Dr. Ralf Quirin, specialist in oral surgery in Freiburg. After studying in Marburg, he worked as a research assistant at the University Dental Clinic in Ulm from 1986 to 1989, where he completed his specialist training in oral surgery; he received recognition from the Baden-Württemberg State Chamber of Dentists in 1990. He has run his practice in Freiburg since 1991. Since 2000, he has also been a specialist in periodontology of the DGParo, and implantology is one of his designated areas of focus (Tätigkeitsschwerpunkt Implantologie).
View Dr. Quirin’s profileMost oral surgery procedures are carried out under local anaesthesia. You are awake while the treated area is numb. If you are very anxious or a procedure is extensive, you can also have it carried out under twilight sedation or general anaesthesia. More on this on our page for anxious patients.
After a surgical procedure, the area may be swollen and sensitive for a few days. Cooling, rest and soft food support healing. You should avoid smoking, alcohol and sport for the first few days. We will give you detailed instructions to take home for the time after the procedure.
Many oral surgery procedures, such as a tooth extraction or an apicoectomy, are covered by German statutory health insurance if they are medically necessary. Implants and aesthetic gum corrections, on the other hand, are generally not covered; for dental restorations on implants, statutory insurance pays a fixed subsidy. Additional services such as a three-dimensional scan, sedation or general anaesthesia on request are usually paid privately. Before the procedure, we will give you an overview of the costs.
Has an implant or a gum procedure been recommended to you, or do you have problems with a wisdom tooth or a root-treated tooth? Make an appointment for a consultation with your oral surgeon in Freiburg. We examine the area, explain your options and tell you honestly whether a procedure is necessary. Call us on 0761 71040 or book an appointment online.
Make an appointment nowAfter studying dentistry, a specialist in oral surgery has completed several years of further training in surgery of the mouth and jaw and passed an examination. Dr. Ralf Quirin has held this title since 1990 and has been working as an oral surgeon in Freiburg since 1991.
In many cases, yes. With microsurgical techniques, gum tissue can be shifted or supplemented with the patient’s own tissue so that exposed tooth necks are covered again. Whether this is possible for you depends on how far the gums have receded and whether bone is also missing. We clarify this during the examination.
Often, yes. If there is not enough jawbone, it can be built up before or during implantation. In some cases, angled implants as in the All-on-4 concept also allow treatment without bone augmentation.
No. Wisdom teeth that are straight, have enough room and cause no problems can stay. Whether removal makes sense is something we assess after the examination and an X-ray.
The procedure itself is carried out under anaesthesia. In the days afterwards, the area may be sensitive and swollen; if necessary, you can take a painkiller.
That depends on the procedure. After minor procedures, everyday life is often possible again the next day; after larger procedures, you should plan a few days of rest. We will tell you beforehand what to expect.
German statutory health insurance usually covers medically necessary procedures such as tooth extractions. Implants and aesthetic gum corrections are usually not covered. Additional services such as a three-dimensional scan or general anaesthesia on request are usually private.
