For five years, Margaret B. (who asked us not to use her last name) suffered from periodontal disease, resulting in the loosening and shifting of her teeth, as well as significant bone loss. The condition made her reluctant to smile.
“It was really noticeable,” says the 47–year–old owner of a local jewelry store. “If I smiled, you could see that one tooth was longer than the others and sticking out. You could also see gum loss. I was really embarrassed.”
Recently, Margaret’s family dentist referred her to Dr. Robert Lemke, a board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon at San Pedro Facial Surgery, for dental implants. The procedure involves removing failing teeth and then inserting implants into the jaw bone. connectors are then attached to the implants. after impressions are made, a patient returns in two to three days to have new crowns placed onto the connectors.
“Dental implants are one of the best things we can offer a patient who has lost a tooth from an accident, cavities or genetic disease,” Lemke says. “If you don’t have an implant, you lose bone. We used to take out teeth and wait, but we found you lose 30% to 50% of jaw size in the first three months. Implants help preserve bone.”
In Margaret’s case, Dr. Lemke removed her top teeth, placed implants and referred her to her dentist. Her dentist then took an impression and had the laboratory create new teeth. Within three days, her teeth were placed and she could begin to smile, talk and chew.
“When I looked in the mirror, all I could think was, 'Wow, I can smile again,’” she says. “Dr. Lemke did an excellent job. It was hard to lose my teeth, but he made me feel very comfortable and provided me with a lot of information.” In addition to dental implants, San Pedro Facial Surgery offers dental and reconstructive surgery, including anesthesia, bone grafts and full mouth reconstruction. The office also provides cosmetic services, such as brow and face lifts, cheek implants, chin augmentation, ear and eyelid tuck, fat transfer, fraxel laser treatment, liposuction, lip augmentation and nasal surgery.
The facility, located at 14500 San Pedro, includes a surgical suite and two overnight stay rooms with an adjoining bath that meets American Disabilities Act criteria.
As an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Lemke can administer anesthesia. “Part of our training as an oral surgeon is unique from any other specialty,” he says. “We go through six months of training in anesthesiology, so with that training we can do a lot of sedations in the office.” For instance, if someone is in a car accident and suffers a facial injury, or a child is bitten by a dog in the face, Lemke can go to the hospital to treat the patient there or they can go to San Pedro Facial Surgery.
“I can go to the ER, sedate that person, suture him up and get him out within an hour–and–a–half,” he says, noting that because he can administer anesthesia and perform any necessary surgery, it can save a patient money. San Pedro Facial Surgery is one of the few medical offices in San antonio that offers fraxel laser treatment, Lemke says. It is a new and advanced skincare procedure to remove acne, scars, sun damage, wrinkles and stretch marks.
“Fraxel goes over the skin, through the outer layer and stimulates the dermis or deeper layers to turn over without leaving the skin raw,” he explains. “It can be used on the face, neck, chest and hands and even for people with darker skin. It’s what all the stars use.”
The 45–year–old San antonio native graduated from Lee High School in 1980 and later earned a biology degree in 1984 from Trinity University. He attended the University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School, obtaining a medical degree and a dental degree in 1993. After graduation, Lemke worked in a medical group with other oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
“I learned a lot and am very thankful for being there, but I knew I always wanted to be on my own,” he says, adding that he opened San Pedro Facial Surgery in 1994 and works alongside two associates, Dr. John Schmitz and Dr. Raymond Kaercher. He also owns Hill Country Dental, at 12274 Bandera Road in Helotes.
When Lemke opened San Pedro Facial Surgery, he had to pay his dues, he recalls. “Like any other business or work we do, it’s nice to take off when you want, but the first six years I didn’t take but one week off because you have to pay the bills, and you’re busy building your business,” he says. “When you’re sick, you come in, put on a smiling face and after you treat a patient, you go collapse in the next room. You have to come to work.”
To keep abreast of the latest advances in oral surgery, Lemke attends conferences annually. He also is on faculty in the department of orthodontics at the UT Health Science Center. “One of the things I’ve found is you learn by teaching because you have to keep up on (the subject matter) and students ask a lot of questions,” he says.
Lemke has also made it a point to teach his own staff about oral and maxillofacial surgery. “Each Wednesday, we take 30 minutes in the morning and have lectures on trauma, facelifts or skin care,” the physician says.
By the way, don’t let the mild–mannered Lemke fool you. He has a black belt in kenseido, a Japanese–style of karate, and is skilled in kendo, the Japanese martial art of fencing, which involves donning a breast plate and armor, and wielding a bamboo sword. “I don’t do it as much as I used to, but I usually practice about once a week in my garage, throwing my kicks and punches against a punching dummy. I usually say I’m a lethal weapon to myself. I can hurt myself faster than anyone else,” he says, laughing.
In his spare time, Lemke, who is fluent in Spanish, enjoys photography and teaches religious classes at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. He and his wife, Kelly, have two sons, Andrew, 9; and Daniel, 8.
