Peter F. Subach
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | Wilmington
Unlike many children, Peter Subach was never afraid of going to the
dentist. “I loved my family dentist,” he says. So much so, in fact, that in fourth grade, he decided that he wanted to become one.
Subach, who graduated from Newark High School and Temple University School of Dentistry, initially thought about specializing in orthodontics. Instead, he decided to pursue a career in oral and maxillofacial surgery, a practice involving diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and mouth. The field requires intensive training in surgery and anesthesia and covers everything from dental implant surgery to bone grafting to corrective jaw surgery.
Subach, who did his four-year residency at Christiana Care Health System, says many patients requiring reconstruction have been in car accidents. Other causes include diseases or tumors.
A member of Christiana Care Health System’s staff, Subach is on call when a patient comes in with oral or maxillofacial injuries. “Christiana is a Level I trauma center,” he says. “We’re very busy.” Depending on the injuries, he may work with a plastic surgeon.
He also teaches residents about oral and maxillofacial surgery, particularly dental implants and wisdom tooth extraction. While the methods used to extract wisdom teeth haven’t changed much, intravenous sedation has turned a one-time hospital procedure into an outpatient procedure. “Many of them find it very relaxing,” Subach says of the sedation. “They fall asleep.”
His patients’ ages cover a wide spectrum. Some are as young as 6. “They might have cavities and they’re in pain and experiencing swelling,” he says. Although the affected tooth is a baby tooth, it still might need extraction.
While Subach had a positive experience at the dentist office as a child, he understands that many people who go to his Wilmington office are nervous. “We work hard to make them comfortable,” he says. “We believe our concern for our patients sets us apart.”
