Dr. Herman is a native of Cambridge, Massachusetts and has been practicing oral and maxillofacial surgery in the Boston area since 1976. He has received degrees from McGill University in Montreal and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.

Dr. Herman is Board Certified and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He is also Board Certified by the American Dental Board of Anesthesiology and is trained and licensed to provide anesthesia services in an out patient setting. Dr. Herman is a fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He has been a member of the Advisory Committee and the Examination Committee of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and has participated in the delivery of the National Certifying Examination from 1990 to 1996.

Dr. Herman has served as a medical staff officer of the Caritas Norwood Hospital in Norwood, Massachusetts since 1989. He was elected as President of the Medical Staff in 1992 and 1993. He has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Southwood Community Hospital in Norfolk, Massachusetts from 1988 to 1991.

Volunteerism and the assisting of the needy in developing countries is a major focus of all of the doctors in this practice. Dr. Herman was one of the co-founders of the national organization Health Volunteers Overseas out of Washington, D.C. in 1986. He has also been a director of volunteer programs for the group Healing the Children. Both of these groups provide free care for patients with cleft lip, cleft palate and craniofacial deformities. The doctors participate in these programs on a regular basis and usually spend from 4 to 6 weeks per year in countries throughout Asia and Latin America. We are very proud of our staff and welcome all questions and comments with regard to their training and philosophy of health care.

Dr. Runnels was born and raised in southern Maine. As a child, she always enjoyed science and math and eventually majored in biology at Boston College. One summer, she worked as an orderly in the operating rooms of Mercy Hospital, where her mother worked as a nurse. She was introduced to many surgical specialists but was particularly fascinated by watching the oral surgeons perform jaw surgery. Sensing her keen interest, the oral surgeons invited Dr. Runnels to observe in their private practices. It was then that she knew she had found the perfect job for her! Following the surgeons advice and encouragement, Dr. Runnels attended Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where she excelled in anatomy, physiology, and pathology.

After graduating second in her class at Tufts, Dr. Runnels moved to New York City to complete her residency at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. During her six-year residency, she had the opportunity to go to the prestigious Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, she spent a year in general surgery, and she treated hundreds of wonderful patients, as she gained hands-on experience training in full-scope oral and maxillofacial surgery.

After completing her residency, Dr. Runnels returned to her second home, Boston, to work and lay down roots. She joined Dr. Lawrence Herman of Neponset Valley OMS in 2003. Dr. Runnels is board certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, which is the highest qualification for a surgeon. She is a fellow with the American College of Surgeons and with the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. She is also a member of several professional organizations, including the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and the Massachusetts Medical and Dental Societies.

Dr. Runnels is passionate about volunteerism, both locally and globally. She participates locally with the Elder Dental Program and provides significantly discounted services and care to the elderly population who oftentimes cannot afford dental care on their very fixed incomes. Globally, Dr. Runnels was introduced to the care and treatment of children and adults with cleft lip, palate and associated deformities, as a chief resident. She participates in various medical missions with organizations such as Healing the Children, Global Smile Foundation, and Smile Train, on an annual basis. Drs. Herman and Runnels collaborated on chapters of a recent textbook on cleft palate and alveolar cleft surgery.

Dr. Runnels lives in suburban Boston with her husband and daughter. As a family, they enjoy traveling, hiking, and arts and crafts together. When shes not chasing her daughter around, Dr. Runnels enjoys swimming and staying physically fit. She has competed in four Ironman triathlons and multiple half-Ironman triathlons over the past several years. In 2018, Dr. Runnels was awarded Ironman Silver All-World Athlete status for finishing in the top 5% of her age group.

Dr. Kurt Herman joined Neponset Valley Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates in the summer of 2011. He is a native of Massachusetts and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Vermont in 1998. He received his D.M.D. degree from The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 2007. He completed his four year residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery at The Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC in 2011. He is trained in full scope oral and maxillofacial surgery including dentoalveolar surgery, orthognathic surgery, pathology, facial trauma, implants, and bone-grafting procedures.

Dr. Herman is an active member of The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, The Massachusetts Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, The American Dental Association, and The Massachusetts Dental Society.

Dr. Herman participates in volunteer surgical missions with Dr. Lawrence Herman, Dr. Sara Runnels, and the Healing the Children organization. He received a certificate of recognition from the American Dental Association for meritorious service to the people of Colombia, South America. His most recent travels were to Mexico with his father to perform surgical procedures for children and adults with craniofacial deformities.

Sedation offers individuals with general anxiety about going to the oral surgeon, or fears about a specific oral surgery procedure, the opportunity to have a stress free and more comfortable experience. Utilizing safe and controlled sedation techniques prior to the procedure, the patient is eased into a state of complete relaxation. This eliminates any discomfort, pain, and preoperative anxiety that may be associated with a particular visit. With sedation, patients typically feel more at ease post-operatively as they have little or no memory of the actual moment-to-moment oral surgery procedure.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the experts in outpatient sedation. There are many anesthetic options to make you as comfortable as possible during your surgical visit. Local anesthetic is always provided during any procedure.

The choice of which type of sedation is most appropriate for an oral surgery procedure depends on the specific needs of the individual. In choosing the most appropriate method of sedation, the oral surgeon considers the patients medical history and their level of anxiety. Types of sedation for oral surgery patients include nitrous oxide sedation, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation.

Commonly referred to as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is used as a mild sedative to reduce anxiety and allow a level of relaxation during a procedure. Nitrous oxide is inhaled through a small mask over the nose. It is administered for the duration of the procedure and is turned off as the procedure is coming to an end. The effects of this method of sedation wear off very quickly.

IV Sedation involves a sedative that is administered intravenously, or directly into a vein. It is indicated when deeper sedation is required. This type of sedation can be quickly modified to your state of consciousness and can be continued as long as necessary for the procedure.