The reason people come to True North Oral Surgery & Implants isn't really about the procedure itself — it's about what the procedure gives back. For our Turtle Lake-area patients, that's the ability to chew a favorite meal without pain, smile in photos without self-consciousness, sleep through the night without pressure from an impacted tooth, or finally replace a missing tooth that has been affecting confidence for years. Oral surgery is a means to an end, and the end is the part that actually matters.
True North Oral Surgery & Implants
Forest Lake Office
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Our surgical services are built around four outcomes that matter most to the patients we see:
Replacing what's missing. Dental implants — single-tooth, multiple-tooth, or full-arch — use premium Straumann, Nobel, and Astra systems to restore teeth that look, feel, and function like the ones you grew up with. For patients who have struggled with loose-fitting dentures or have avoided certain foods because of missing teeth, implants are often a genuine return to normal daily life.
Removing what's causing problems. Impacted wisdom teeth, infected or fractured teeth, and teeth that cannot be saved with restorative dentistry all need careful surgical removal. When these teeth are sources of pain, pressure, or infection, getting them out of the way is usually the first step toward feeling like yourself again.
Restoring function and alignment. Corrective jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) addresses bite misalignment, chronic jaw pain, and structural issues that affect eating, speaking, and sometimes breathing. For patients whose jaws do not meet the way they should, this kind of surgery — performed in coordination with an orthodontist — can change how everyday life feels.
Preparing the foundation. Bone grafting and related procedures rebuild the jawbone structure needed to support future implants or long-term restorative work. Even when this isn't the highlighted outcome, it is often the step that makes everything else possible.
Across all of these, we use CS 9600 CBCT cone-beam imaging to plan every case with three-dimensional precision, 3Shape intraoral scanners to capture digital impressions comfortably and accurately, and a full range of anesthesia options — local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, IV sedation, and general anesthesia — so that the experience of getting care is as manageable as the outcome is worthwhile. For Turtle Lake patients, we coordinate scheduling to reduce the number of trips needed, send pre- and post-operative instructions ahead of time, and handle follow-up by phone whenever the clinical situation allows.
About Turtle Lake, WI
Turtle Lake is a small village of roughly 1,000 residents located primarily in Barron County, Wisconsin, at the intersection of US Highway 8 and US Highway 63 in the northwestern part of the state. Surrounded by a constellation of small lakes and woodlands, the village is a popular stop for travelers heading up north and a tight-knit community shaped by its railroad history, its multi-use trail system, and the hospitality of the greater Chippewa tribal region that surrounds it.
Top landmarks in Turtle Lake, WI include:
- St. Croix Casino Turtle Lake — Operated by the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, this full-service casino and hotel complex is one of the most recognizable destinations in the region, featuring gaming, dining, live entertainment, and convention facilities.
- Cattail Trail — An 18-mile multi-use trail that follows a former railroad bed from Amery to Almena, passing directly through Turtle Lake with a paved parking and staging area that makes the village a popular trailhead for walking, biking, and winter snowmobiling.
- Rustic Road 67 — A state-designated 4.6-mile scenic route that loops through woods, wetlands, and farm fields around Skinaway Lake, offering one of the most peaceful drives in northwestern Wisconsin.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Turtle Lake Area Oral Surgeon Practice
The decision to save or extract a damaged tooth is one of the most important conversations you can have with your dental team, and the right answer depends on several factors. Teeth with small to moderate decay, small cracks, or manageable root canal needs can often be saved with fillings, crowns, or endodontic treatment.
Extraction tends to be the better path when a tooth has deep decay below the gumline, a fracture extending into the root, severe bone loss around the tooth, or a failed previous restoration that cannot be redone reliably. At your consultation, we will use CBCT imaging to see exactly what's going on at and below the gum, review the tooth's long-term prognosis honestly, and walk you through replacement options — like a dental implant — if extraction is recommended.
There's no single right answer for every situation, and we take the time to make sure you understand your options before any decision is made.
No — there is no upper age limit for dental implants. Implant success depends far more on bone volume, overall health, and the condition of your gums than on your chronological age. We regularly place implants in patients in their 60s, 70s, and beyond, and for many of these patients, implants represent a major improvement in daily life after years of uncomfortable dentures or gaps in their smile.
For younger patients, we generally wait until jaw growth is complete, which is typically in the late teens for girls and a bit later for boys. At your consultation, we will evaluate bone volume, screen for any medical considerations that might affect healing, and talk through what a successful outcome looks like for you specifically. It is rarely "too late" to consider implants.
Yes, in most cases — but your medications are an important part of the pre-operative conversation. Blood thinners (such as warfarin, apixaban, or aspirin), bisphosphonates used for osteoporosis, immunosuppressants, and certain diabetes medications all have implications for surgical planning.
In some cases, we work with your physician to temporarily adjust dosing around the procedure; in other cases, we simply plan the surgery carefully around the medication you're taking. What matters most is that we have a complete and accurate list of everything you take — prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements — well before your appointment so that we can plan safely.
Our team will review your medications during your consultation and coordinate with your primary care physician when appropriate.
For most procedures, the visible change is a positive one. Dental implants restore a natural-looking smile in places where teeth have been missing, often preserving the bone structure that would otherwise shrink over time.
Wisdom teeth removal typically has no long-term effect on facial appearance. Bone grafting rebuilds areas where facial contour may have collapsed after tooth loss. Orthognathic surgery does change facial structure by design — it repositions the upper or lower jaw — but the result is usually a more balanced, natural profile.
For any procedure where aesthetic changes are a consideration, we discuss expectations in detail during the consultation and use digital planning tools to help you understand what the outcome is likely to look like before treatment begins.
The drive from Turtle Lake to our Forest Lake office typically takes about 90 minutes, following US Highway 8 west through St. Croix Falls and continuing across the St. Croix River into Forest Lake. Our office at 1420 South Lake Street, Suite 200 has convenient on-site parking.
Because Turtle Lake is a longer drive than many of our patients travel, we make a point of scheduling efficiently — combining consultation, imaging, and treatment planning into a single visit when possible, and using phone follow-up rather than extra in-person visits whenever the clinical situation allows.
For Barron County patients whose care plans will involve several visits, we can also help coordinate with a local dentist for routine follow-up in between surgical appointments.
Ready to take the next step? Call our Forest Lake office at 651-578-7000 or request an appointment online, and we will look forward to welcoming you.