The Feasterville-based oral and maxillofacial surgery practice founded by Charles B. Nissman, D.D.S., opened its doors more than 38 years ago. The practice, now known as Nissman & Salin Oral, Maxillofacial and Implant Surgery, has enjoyed such longevity as a result of its patient-centric, options-driven approach to treatment, its surgeons guided by principles dating back to a time when health care was much more personalized.
“In today’s health care environment, especially in the surgical specialties, it’s very difficult to find caring individuals to make patients feel comfortable and at ease,” says Michael B. Salin, D.M.D., who joined Dr. Nissman in the practice in 2004. “We have sought to change that in our office. We want to go back to the era, when the doctors themselves treated every patient, called everyone to make sure they were feeling better, and became the primary caregivers rather than nurses and assistants. We have brought back this ‘old-fashioned’ practice care, but offer the most advanced procedures at our state-of-the-art surgical care center.”
Drs. Nissman and Salin aim to provide “university-level care, right here in your backyard,” all in a highly sophisticated surgical setting. The surgeons are capable of offering a full range of oral and maxillofacial procedures to alleviate patients’ pain and restore their ability to eat, speak and enjoy life again.
“Oral surgery has evolved over the past 40 years,” says Dr. Nissman. “We have always practiced evidence-based oral surgery performing only the procedures and using techniques which have been clearly shown to benefit our patients.”
People of all ages who have a “failing dentition” as a result of traumatic injuries, tumor removal and congenital conditions that cause teeth to erode or break down benefit from any number of treatment options—namely, full-mouth dental implant makeovers, oral pathology, jaw augmentation, the treatment of facial trauma and, of course, wisdom teeth removal with recovery times that have drastically improved.
The practice has become one of the region’s leading providers of full-mouth reconstructions using dental implants, which essentially create a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel and function like natural teeth. For nearly all of these cases, the practice can perform dental extractions and provide new implant-supported temporary teeth within 24 to 48 hours; final teeth are typically completed within three to four months, according to Dr. Salin.
Drs. Nissman and Salin’s state-of-the-art surgical center enables a “team approach” to treating implant patients. In this scenario, the surgeon for each case is joined by the patient’s family dentist, as well as a representative from the dental laboratory, to ensure the best possible outcome. The practice also utilizes cutting-edge technology to facilitate successful treatment. This includes a cone beam scanner, which provides a comprehensive 3-D view of the patient’s head and neck to aid in the diagnosis, planning and placement of each implant; modern “quick on, quick off” anesthesia techniques that enable a speedy recovery without the unpleasant side effects of traditional anesthesia; and computer-aided design for designing and creating implant-retained teeth in an offsite dental laboratory.
“With these implant cases, what we do is give a person their confidence back,” says Dr. Salin. “We’ll perform procedures on everyone from young adults and above, and the majority of those patients will say ‘I can’t believe I didn’t do this years ago.’ … I will also perform ‘end stage’ implant reconstructive cases, when patients have very few options to replace their missing teeth despite being told by other clinicians they were not dental implant candidates. With modern implant technologies, this is possible in one surgical procedure.
“There are many ways to accomplish complex treatment plans for patients,” he continues. “We make sure patients are aware of all the options—pros and cons—and then make the decision how to proceed, together. Patients are also shocked at the ways we can help them financially. Many people think expensive cosmetic surgical dentistry is unattainable for financial reasons. By working closely with their insurance providers and financing options, rarely are finances a barrier to treatment for our patients.”
Kim Heckmann, the practice’s implant treatment coordinator, works with patients to coordinate all aspects of an implant case—from lab work and insurance to appointment scheduling and post-care. She is just one of the practice’s many devoted professionals who provide “concierge-style service,” according to Dr. Nissman.
“We have spent a lot of time and team training cultivating employees in a ‘Ritz-Carlton’ kind of environment,” he says. “From the moment our patients call in for their first interaction, our assistants are warm and welcoming. After a surgery, we will call every patient the night and then follow up with them the next day to make sure they’re feeling well. We do everything we can—even driving patients to another dentist’s office, if need be—to cultivate that hands-on experience.”
Drs. Nissman and Salin have become recognized as skilled surgeons by patients and peers alike. Together, they offer a collaborative implant training program to fellow dental professionals, focusing on treatment planning, communication skills and other essential aspects. Also, Dr. Nissman is set to become president of the Pennsylvania Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, while Dr. Salin is president of the Delaware Valley Society of Oral Surgeons and the Eastern Dental Society. Both doctors are Diplomates of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the National Dental Board of Anesthesiology, as well as Fellows of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
Building on the practice’s nearly 40-year track record of success, Nissman & Salin will soon be adding a third oral and maxillofacial surgeon: Jared S. Weiner, D.M.D., who earned his dental degree from Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry. The Huntingdon Valley native is currently completing his oral maxillofacial surgery residency at Lincoln Medical Center in New York and will be joining the practice in July.
The practice’s steady growth won’t stop there, according to Dr. Salin.
“Part of our goal of providing this university-level type of care in our patients’ backyard is to bring multiple subspecialties of oral surgery into the practice,” he says. “There is a huge need for the treatment of TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders, oral pain and other subspecialties, and we want to bring those all under one roof in a suburban practice to improve our community’s access to care. We want to take a comprehensive approach to oral medicine, without patients having to go to one of the major hospitals downtown.
“This is about getting back to the basics and always putting the patient first,” he continues. “We’re practicing medicine and dentistry the way it used to be, but with all the latest technology to provide the best care possible.”
Nissman & Salin Oral, Maxillofacial and Implant Surgery
1300 Bridgetown Pike
Feasterville, PA 19053
215-322-7810 | www.n-soms.com
Photograph by Allure West Studios
