Image: Daniel S. Lader, DMD – Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Elizabeth Hulse of Allentown was reluctant to have her wisdom teeth removed. Oral surgery made her anxious, the prospect of swelling was stressful and she didn’t want the procedure to affect her smile. But Hulse, now 22, can smile when she reflects on her wisdom teeth removal experience at St. Luke’s Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS).
“I was very apprehensive about doing this, but the doctors really reassured me and the staff were wonderful, extremely kind and always welcoming,” Hulse said. “They calmed my nerves, which made the process quite easy.”
Wisdom teeth removal is a common oral health procedure, especially for teenagers, because putting a 32 in a mouth designed to hold a 28 often doesn’t work. Erupting wisdom teeth can cause pain, misalignment, tooth decay and further dental problems. Nobody wants that, but, Hulse said, the process is still stressful.
Hulse experienced pain when her wisdom teeth began to erupt, so her dentist referred her to OMS of St. Luke for surgery. Dr. Daniel Lader performed the procedure, supported by a surgical team that eased Hulse’s concerns throughout the procedure.
Wisdom teeth removal requires a comprehensive oral exam, individualized surgical plan and options for sedation. Hulse said the OMS team of St. Luke explained each step clearly, fully and empathetically.
On the day of the surgery, Dr. Lader assured Hulse that the procedure itself would be quick and painless. When she woke up, Hulse felt minimal pain and noticed nominal swelling. Two days later, he was back to normal.
“Dr. Lader was fantastic,” Hulse said. “I would recommend anyone needing an extraction to see him. He’s a super genuine guy and was so helpful.”
Patients considering wisdom teeth removal have many questions about the outpatient procedure. Will it cause pain or complications? Will sedation or local anesthesia be needed? What is the recovery time?
Hulse asked all these questions, to which the staff at OMS St. Luke answered thoroughly. She looks positively at the process, from initial consultation to surgery to recovery. Best of all, Hulse said, there are no chapped cheeks due to swelling.
“They couldn’t have made it easier for me from start to finish,” Hulse said. “They were great with communication and overall morale, just making sure I felt good about it.”
For more information on wisdom teeth removal and to schedule a consultation, visit the team at OMS of Saint Luke.
About Saint Luke
The University Health Network of St. Luke (SLUHN), founded in 1872, is a fully integrated, regional, not-for-profit network with annual net revenues of more than $4.5 billion. With 23,000+ employees at 16 hospital campuses and 350+ outpatient sites, it is the Lehigh Valley’s largest employer.
The Network’s service area includes 11 counties in two states: Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. The hospitals of St. Luke’s operates the largest network of trauma centers in Pennsylvania, with the Bethlehem Campus home to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital. Luke.
Dedicated to advancing medical education, St. Luke’s is the preeminent teaching hospital in east-central Pennsylvania. In partnership with Temple University, the Network established the Lehigh Valley’s first and only four-year medical school. It also operates the nation’s oldest School of Nursing, founded in 1884, and 50+ fully accredited graduate medical education programs with 500+ residents and fellows.
The St. Luke’s has been named a Leapfrog Group and Healthgrades Top Hospital and Newsweek World’s Best Hospital. It is the only health care system based in the Lehigh Valley to earn Medicare’s five-star ratings (the highest) for quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction. In 2025, the Network earned straight A’s from Leapfrog at all 11 of its acute care hospitals. It has earned Premier 100 Top Hospital designations 11 years in a row, including 2021 when its flagship University Hospital was recognized as THE #1 TEACHING HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTRY. Utilizing the Epic electronic medical record (EMR) system for both inpatient and outpatient services, the Network is a multi-year recipient of the Most Wired award recognizing SLUHN’s breadth of information technology applications such as telehealth, online scheduling and online billing information.
Information provided to TVL by:
Sam Kennedy
