Dr. Ziemans early education began at St. Marys Catholic elementary school and UMS high school. He received his BS in Biology from Birmingham Southern College. While at BSC, he worked in a cancer research lab at UAB and co-authored several published papers. From there, he graduated with honors from UAB School of Dentistry. Among his many honors was being selected to serve as the student representative on the admissions committee. In 1983, he completed a general practice residency in Hospital Dentistry at the VA Hospital in Birmingham. After earning his post-doctorate Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery degree from LSU/Charity Hospital in New Orleans, he completed his cancer surgery training at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Australia. He returned to Mobile in 1987 to join Dr. Al Martin.

Dr. Zieman is board certified in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and a member of multiple dental associations including the Mobile Area Dental Society, the Alabama Dental Association, the American Dental Association and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Dr. Zieman has placed over 6000 implants and performed over 2000 jaw surgeries. His extensive experience brings to our community the latest advances in surgical reconstruction of the oral and maxillofacial region. Dr. Zieman takes a direct, comprehensive approach to patient care in order to achieve long-term, functional results for patients. His expertise has helped numerous patients regain their confidence and quality of life.

Dr. Zieman has been married to his wife, Debbie, for over 40 years. They have six children and three grandchildren. A dedicated family man, Dr. Zieman enjoys many outdoor activities with his family. His favorites are fishing and boating on our beautiful Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. He is also a member of the Corpus Christi Parish where he actively participates in the Men of St. Joseph Bible study group.

Dr. Pfeffle is a native of St Louis, Missouri. He attended Spring Hill College and attained a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1989. He pursued his dental degree at the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in Birmingham. Dr. Pfeffle was class president and was awarded the Student Leadership Award at graduation. He then attended Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA from 1993 to 1997 for his residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Dr. Pfeffle attained his board certification in 1999 and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He is a member of many professional organizations including: American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Alabama State Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Past President, Southeastern Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Current President, American Dental Association and Alabama Dental Association and Mobile Dental Society.

Dr. Pfeffle married his college sweetheart, Kristin. They live in Mobile and have two daughters, Jordan and Kate. The Pfeffles attend Saint Ignatius Catholic Church. Dr. Pfeffle stays busy playing tennis and golf, boating, cooking and spending time with his family. He enjoys Alabama football and is an avid supporter of Mobile Mardi Gras.

Dr. Ryan S. Sheppard is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He is a member of many professional organizations including: American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Alabama State Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Dental Association and Alabama Dental Association and Mobile Dental Society.

He and his wife, Kelly, have three children, Audrey, Warner, and Frances. The Sheppards attend St. Pauls Episcopal Church. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family.

Dr. Matthew Zieman was born and raised in Mobile, AL where he attended Corpus Christi for elementary school and UMS-Wright for high school. He completed his undergraduate education at Birmingham-Southern College, receiving his Bachelors in Science focusing in Biology. Dr. Zieman then moved on to attain his DMD at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry, and completed his residency training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery requires additional years of hospital-based surgical and anesthesia training after graduation from dental school. As Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, Drs. Gregory Zieman, Robert Pfeffle, Ryan Sheppard, and Matthew Zieman manage a wide variety of problems relating to the mouth, teeth and facial regions. Our doctorspractice a full scope of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery with expertise ranging from dental implant surgery and wisdom tooth removal to corrective jaw surgery. This also includes techniques designed to rebuild bone structure with minimal surgical intervention and optimal patient comfort. We can also diagnose and treat facial pain, facial injuries, and fractures.

Our front office staff is ready to greet you with a smile upon your arrival at our practice. Our friendly and knowledgable team will be assisting in your check-in, processing of any payments and insurance, and equipped to answer all questions you may have. We are proud to have a team that are informed of all administrative personnel, well-versed in health and insurance policies, and are CPR certified.

The surgical staff at Bay Area Oral Surgery are experienced oral and maxillofacial surgical assistants, are CPR certified and are trained in assisting with Intravenous (IV) sedation or outpatient general anesthesia in our state-of-the-art office setting. Patients are continuously monitored during and after surgery.

Dental implants are changing the way people live. They are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. The person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved. Patients with dental implants can smile with confidence.

The implants themselves are tiny titanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone where teeth are missing. These metal anchors act as tooth root substitutes. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. Small posts that protrude through the gums are then attached to the implant. These posts provide stable anchors for artificial replacement teeth.

Once you learn about dental implants, you finally realize there is a way to improve your life. When you lose several teeth whether its a new situation or something you have lived with for years, chances are you have never become fully accustomed to losing such a vital part of yourself.

A Swedish scientist and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Per-Ingvar Branemark, developed this concept for oral rehabilitation more than 35 years ago. With his pioneering research, Dr. Branemark opened the door to a lifetime of renewed comfort and self-confidence for millions of individuals facing the frustration and embarrassment of tooth loss.

A complete dental prosthesis (fixed bridge) replaces all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw. The number of implants varies depending upon which type of complete prosthesis (removable or fixed) is recommended.

Our doctors will perform in-office implant surgery in a hospital-style operating suite, thus optimizing the level of sterility. Inpatient hospital implant surgery is for patients who have special medical or anesthetic needs or for those who need extensive bone grafting from the jaw, hip or tibia.

After the implant has bonded to the jawbone, the second phase begins. Our doctors will uncover the implants and attach small posts that protrude through the gums and will act as anchors for the artificial teeth.

Using the most recent advances in dental implant technology, Drs. Gregory Zieman, Robert Pfeffle, Ryan Sheppard, and Matthew Zieman are able to place single stage implants. These implants do not require a second procedure to uncover them but they will require a minimum of six weeks of healing time before artificial teeth are placed. There are even situations where the implants can be placed at the same time as a tooth extraction further minimizing the number of surgical procedures.

Dental Implant placement is a team effort between an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and a restorative dentist. While our doctors perform the actual implant surgery, initial tooth extractions, and bone grafting if necessary, the restorative dentist (your dentist) fits and makes the permanent prosthesis. Your dentist will also make any temporary prosthesis needed during the implant process.

By the age of 18, the average adult has 32 teeth; 16 teeth on the top and 16 teeth on the bottom. Each tooth in the mouth has a specific name and function. The teeth in the front of the mouth (incisors, canine, and bicuspid teeth) are ideal for grasping and biting food into smaller pieces. The back teeth (molar teeth) are used to grind food up into a consistency suitable for swallowing.

The average mouth is made to hold only 28 teeth. It can be painful when 32 teeth try to fit in a mouth that holds only 28 teeth. These four other teeth are your third molars, also known as wisdom teeth.

Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt within the mouth. When they align properly and gum tissue is healthy, wisdom teeth do not have to be removed. Unfortunately, this does not generally happen. The extraction of wisdom teeth is necessary when they are prevented from properly erupting within the mouth. They may grow sideways, partially emerge from the gum, and even remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. Impacted teeth can take many positions in the bone as they attempt to find a pathway that will allow them to successfully erupt.

These poorly positioned impacted teeth can cause many problems. When they have partially erupted, the opening around the teeth allows bacteria to grow and will eventually cause an infection. The result: swelling, stiffness, pain, and illness. The pressure from the erupting wisdom teeth may move other teeth and disrupt the orthodontic or natural alignment of teeth. The most serious problem occurs when tumors or cysts form around the impacted wisdom teeth, resulting in the destruction of the jawbone and healthy teeth. Removal of the offending impacted teeth usually resolves these problems. Early removal is recommended to avoid such future problems and to decrease the surgical risk involved with the procedure.

With an oral examination and x-rays of the mouth, our doctors can evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and predict if there are present or may be future problems. Studies have shown that early evaluation and treatment result in a superior outcome for the patient. Patients are generally first evaluated in the mid-teenage years by their dentist, orthodontist or by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

All outpatient surgery is performed under appropriate anesthesia to maximize patient comfort. Our doctors have the training, license and experience to provide various types of anesthesia for patients to select the effective alternative.

In most cases, the removal of wisdom teeth is performed under local anesthesia, laughing gas (nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia) or general anesthesia. These options, as well as the surgical risks (i.e., sensory nerve damage, sinus complications), will be discussed with you before the procedure is performed. You will rest under our supervision in the office until you are ready to be taken home. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at (251) 344-6191.