Dr. Therese M. Diflorio Brennan, DMD

Dr. Therese M. Diflorio Brennan, DMD operates an oral surgery practice located at 517 East Lancaster Avenue in Shillington, Pennsylvania. The practice functions under the name Reading Oral Surgery, serving patients throughout Berks County and the greater Reading metropolitan area. As a Doctor of Dental Medicine specializing in oral and maxillofacial surgery, Dr. Diflorio Brennan provides surgical dental services that extend beyond the scope of general dentistry.

Location and Setting

The practice is situated along East Lancaster Avenue, one of the primary commercial corridors in Shillington. This borough, located approximately four miles southwest of downtown Reading, has a population of roughly 5,000 residents and serves as part of the larger Reading suburban community. The East Lancaster Avenue location provides accessibility to patients traveling from Reading, Wyomissing, West Reading, Sinking Spring, and surrounding communities in Berks County.

The office maintains wheelchair accessible facilities throughout the premises, including an accessible entrance, restroom, and parking lot. This comprehensive accessibility allows patients with mobility limitations to receive oral surgery services without physical barriers to entry or navigation within the facility.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Services

Oral and maxillofacial surgery represents a recognized specialty within dentistry that focuses on the diagnosis and surgical treatment of conditions affecting the mouth, jaw, face, and neck. Practitioners in this field complete additional years of hospital-based surgical training following dental school, qualifying them to perform procedures that general dentists typically refer to specialists.

Common procedures performed by oral surgeons include the extraction of impacted wisdom teeth, which often require surgical removal due to their position in the jaw. Wisdom tooth extraction represents one of the most frequently performed oral surgery procedures in the United States, with millions of patients undergoing this treatment annually. The procedure may involve removing bone tissue, sectioning teeth, and managing soft tissue to safely extract teeth that have not fully erupted or have grown at angles that prevent normal emergence.

Dental implant placement constitutes another significant area of oral surgery practice. This procedure involves surgically inserting titanium posts into the jawbone to serve as artificial tooth roots. These implants integrate with the surrounding bone tissue over several months, eventually providing stable anchors for prosthetic teeth, bridges, or dentures. The surgical placement of implants requires precise positioning and adequate bone volume, sometimes necessitating additional procedures such as bone grafting.

Oral surgeons also perform corrective jaw surgery, known as orthognathic surgery, which addresses skeletal irregularities of the jaw that affect bite alignment, facial appearance, and function. These procedures may be performed in conjunction with orthodontic treatment to achieve optimal results for patients with significant jaw discrepancies.

Additional services commonly provided by oral surgery practices include treatment of facial trauma, removal of cysts and tumors from the jaw, management of temporomandibular joint disorders requiring surgical intervention, and biopsy of suspicious oral lesions. The scope of treatment varies based on individual patient needs and the specific focus of each practice.

Professional Background

The DMD credential held by Dr. Diflorio Brennan indicates completion of a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree program. The DMD and DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) degrees are equivalent qualifications awarded by dental schools in the United States, with the specific designation depending on the institution attended. Both degrees require four years of graduate-level dental education following undergraduate studies.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons complete an additional four to six years of hospital-based residency training after dental school. This training includes extensive experience in general surgery, anesthesia, and the full range of oral surgical procedures. Many oral surgeons also obtain medical degrees during their training, though this is not universal. Board certification in oral and maxillofacial surgery requires passing comprehensive examinations administered by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Appointment and Access Information

The practice operates on an appointment basis, with scheduling recommended prior to visiting the office. This appointment-based model is standard for oral surgery practices, as procedures often require advance planning, pre-operative consultations, and coordination with referring dentists. Patients seeking oral surgery services typically receive referrals from their general dentists, though direct scheduling may be available depending on the nature of the treatment needed.

The office can be reached by telephone at 610-777-7646.

The Role of Oral Surgery in Dental Care

Oral surgery practices function as specialty referral centers within the dental care system. General dentists diagnose conditions requiring surgical intervention and refer patients to oral surgeons for treatment. Following surgical procedures, patients typically return to their general dentists for ongoing care and any necessary restorative work.

This referral-based model ensures that complex surgical procedures are performed by practitioners with specialized training and experience. For patients, this means receiving care from providers who focus specifically on surgical treatment rather than the broader range of services offered in general dental practices.

The integration of oral surgery services within a community provides residents access to specialized care without traveling to larger metropolitan areas. For Berks County residents, having oral surgery services available locally reduces the need to seek treatment in Philadelphia or other distant locations for procedures ranging from routine extractions to more complex surgical interventions.

Practical Considerations for Patients

Patients preparing for oral surgery consultations should bring relevant dental records, including X-rays or imaging studies if available from their referring dentist. A complete medical history, including current medications and any known allergies, helps the surgical team plan appropriate treatment and anesthesia protocols.

Many oral surgery procedures involve some form of sedation or anesthesia, which may require patients to arrange transportation home following their appointments. Pre-operative instructions typically include guidelines about eating and drinking before procedures, medication adjustments, and other preparations specific to the planned treatment.

Post-operative care following oral surgery varies based on the procedure performed but generally includes managing swelling, maintaining oral hygiene around surgical sites, following dietary restrictions during healing, and taking prescribed medications as directed. Follow-up appointments allow the surgical team to monitor healing and address any concerns that arise during recovery.