Dr. Drew Steel was raised in southern Utah in the small town of Santa Clara. He, his wife Michele, and their four boys have been enjoying life in New Mexico for four years now, and the doctor is thrilled to have the opportunity to carry on with Dr. McGees excellent work at Rio Grande Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center. The nephew of a talented orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Steel was inspired from an early age to pursue a career in the healthcare field, and from day one in dental school, he knew that he wanted to follow the oral surgery path, with its distinctive combination of dentistry and medicine.

Board-certified and trained in the full spectrum of oral and maxillofacial surgery, Dr. Steel has extensive experience in dentoalveolar surgery, dental implant placement, and the treatment of facial trauma. Dr. Steel would like you to know that as his patient at Rio Grande Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center, you can expect to have outstanding oral surgery care tailored specifically to your needs and wishes for excellent results and the beautiful smile you deserve.

Dr. Steel received his bachelors degree in Business Finance from Brigham Young University in 2005. He went on to dental school and received his Doctor of Dental Medicine at the University of Louisville in Kentucky and graduated in 2011. While in dental school, Dr. Steel was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society. He also received the Pierre Fauchard award for dental excellence.

Dr. Steel is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and a member of the American Dental Association, the New Mexico Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

When Dr. Steel isnt in the practice helping his patients, he enjoys spending time with his wife and four boys. He also enjoys golfing, boating, snow skiing, and being in nature. The doctor has spent many gratifying years volunteering his time to organizations that include the Hope Alliance and Fundacin Ruth Paz. Serving his local community and being of service to his church is also an important part of Dr. Steels life.

Dental implants have become the gold standard to replace missing or failing teeth. Strong, stable, and durable, implants restore nearly all original bite strength. They also reverse jawbone loss and protect the neighboring teeth from shifting by replacing the tooth roots.

Despite common myths, nearly anyone can become a good candidate for dental implants. Underlying medical conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes should be under tight control, and existing oral health problems such as tooth decay or gum disease must be addressed. In addition, those who have severe jawbone loss may need a bone graft to support the implants. Within these guidelines, there is no reason not to enjoy the benefits of dental implants.

One dental implant with a crown replaces a single tooth. We will insert a tiny sliver of biocompatible titanium into your jawbone and cap it with a cover screw or a healing cap. Over the next several months, the implant will fuse with the bone. We will then remove the cover and attach a high-quality, customized crown to the implant with a piece known as an abutment.

An implant supported bridge is an excellent option for those who are missing three or more teeth in a row. Rather than sacrificing healthy structure to anchor the bridge on the adjacent teeth, we will secure both ends to dental implants for a highly functional and aesthetic restoration.

We can stabilize a removable denture with just two dental implants, or use a handful of implants to permanently attach a full arch of fixed teeth that never leave your mouth. While traditional dentures restore just a small portion of bite strength and tend to slip and pinch, implant supported dentures allow you to bite and chew normally.

If you are missing all your teeth on your upper or lower arch, full-arch restoration is a real game-changer. Using just four immediate-load dental implants, we can attach a full, fixed arch of high-quality replacement teeth on the same day as your extractions.

We use the X-Guide navigation system. This allows us to scan your mouth and then complete the implant surgery virtually to create an optimal result. During the actual surgery, we watch the virtual surgery to ensure that every detail precisely matches. This system lets us blend the art and the science of dental implant placement to maximize aesthetics, function, and longevity.

Wisdom teeth are the most likely of all the teeth to develop problems, so they should be evaluated in the mid to late teens. Early evaluation, with removal if indicated, can help to protect you against future oral health problems.

Wisdom teeth, clinically known as the third molars, are the last teeth to emerge. Located in the very back of the mouth, they were vital to our ancestors, for whom raw plants made up a significant portion of their diet. Todays eating patterns make wisdom teeth the least needed for chewing, and modern, smaller jaws often do not have room for them. Wisdom teeth are prone to impaction, twisting, shifting, and crowding the other teeth.

For a long time, wisdom teeth extractions were a rite of passage. Today, though, your primary dentist will carefully evaluate them. If your wisdom teeth are straight and not impacted, and there is room for them in your mouth, there is no need to remove them. However, problematic wisdom teeth should be extracted as soon as possible. They tend to cause worsening issues over time, and healing from the extractions becomes more difficult later in life.

Although it is often feared, wisdom teeth extraction is relatively simple. Your mouth will be thoroughly numbed with a local anesthetic, and we offer both IV sedation and general anesthesia if you desire.

We will first cut a small incision in the gum tissue and then remove any bone that is covering the tooth. We will then use dental forceps to gently pull it out. We may need to cut the tooth into pieces to make removal easier, and you might need dental sutures to control bleeding. We can remove all your wisdom teeth in a single procedure.

Modern technology and surgical techniques ensure that recovery is relatively uneventful. You may experience mild swelling, bleeding, and facial bruising, which should resolve in a day or two. If we prescribe antibiotics or pain medications, take them as directed even if you are not hurting. It is much easier to stay ahead of potential pain than to fight it.

We will provide detailed instructions regarding eating, drinking, smoking, and oral hygiene. If you follow them carefully, you should be able to return to work or school within 72 hours. If you experience any unusual symptoms or you have any concerns, please call us immediately.