Blue Water Oral & Facial Surgery practices a full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery, with
expertise ranging from corrective jaw surgery to wisdom tooth removal. We can also diagnose and
treat facial pain, facial injuries, and TMJ disorders and perform a full range of dental implant and
bone grafting procedures.
Call to schedule an appointment.
Dr. Scott Varland grew up in New Ulm, MN. He earned his undergraduate degree in biology and Norwegian from Saint Olaf College in Northfield, MN, and his Doctorate in Dental Surgery degree from the University of Minnesota in 2002. Following dental school, Dr. Varland completed a hospital dentistry residency at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis followed by a residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery through New York Medical College. He joined Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical Associates in 2008.
Dr. Varland has devoted his professional career to the broad scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery practice with special interests in orthognathic surgery, cleft lip and palate, implantology/jaw reconstruction, and TMJ/facial pain. To keep abreast of the latest developments in the specialty, he has always exceeded the continuing education requirements and maintains active memberships in several professional organizations.
Dr. Varland enjoys spending time hunting and fishing, traveling and spending time with his wife and two children.
Dr. Nathan Jarnot was born and raised in Rice, Minnesota. Where completed his undergraduate education at the University of Minnesota- Morris in biology. He then went on to receive his dental degree at the University of Minnesota- School of Dentistry. Following his training at the U of M, he continued on to the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor School of Medicine where he received his medical degree and also completed his residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Dr. Jarnot joined Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical Associates in 2017. He is a member of the Northeast Dental District Society, where he serves on the new dentist committee, he is also a member of the Lake Superior Study Club. The mission of Mercy was a new volunteer opportunity for Dr. Jarnot this year and he is looking forward to continuing to serve the state through this mission.
Dr. Jarnot truly enjoys living in Duluth and is looking forward to many years within the community. He grew up on his parent’s chicken farm and really enjoys being outdoors and also working on cars and being hands-on in home remodeling.
Dr. Eric Scotland, a native to Northern Minnesota, graduated from Bemidji High School. He spent the next year as a Rotary Exchange Student in Chile, where he learned Spanish. He attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, with an emphasis in Natural Sciences and went on to attend the University of Minnesota- School of Dentistry where he earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.
After graduation, Dr. Scotland moved to Colorado and practiced general dentistry for eight years working at Sunrise Community Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center, in Loveland, Colorado. At Sunrise Community Health, he provided services for the underserved, indigenous, and migrant worker populations. It was there that he was encouraged to pursue oral surgery. After completing an internship in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Missouri Kansas City, he went on to complete a four-year residency training in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at Christiana Care Health System in Wilmington, Delaware.
Dr. Scotland is a board-certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. He is an active member of the Northeast Dental District Society and the Minnesota Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons.
Dr. Scotland resides in Duluth with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys spending time with his family and being outdoors in the Twin Ports area.
Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. The person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything and can smile with confidence, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Third molars are commonly referred to as wisdom teeth. They are usually the last teeth to develop and are located in the back of your mouth, behind your second molars. Their development is usually completed between the middle teenage years and early twenties, a time traditionally associated with the onset of maturity and the attainment of wisdom.
Our practice can evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and predict if there are present or future potential problems. Studies have shown that early evaluation and treatment result in a superior outcome for the patient. Patients are generally first evaluated in the mid-teenage years by their dentist, orthodontist, or by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
Oral Pathology
The inside of the mouth is normally lined with a special type of skin (mucosa) that is smooth and coral pink in color. Any alteration in this appearance could be a warning sign for a pathological process. The most serious of these is oral cancer.
The following can be signs at the beginning of a pathological process or cancerous growth:
Reddish patches (erythroplasia) or whitish patches (leukoplakia) in the mouth
A sore that fails to heal and bleeds easily
A lump or thickening on the skin lining the inside of the mouth
Chronic sore throat or hoarseness and/or difficulty in chewing or swallowing
These changes can be detected on the lips, cheeks, palate, and gum tissue around the teeth, tongue, face, and/or neck. Pain does not always occur with pathology, and curiously, is not often associated with oral cancer. However, any patient with facial and/or oral pain without an obvious cause or reason may also be at risk for oral cancer.
We would recommend performing an oral cancer self-examination monthly. Remember that your mouth is one of your body’s most important warning systems. Do not ignore suspicious lumps or sores. Please contact us so we can assist you with any questions or concerns.
Implant Supported Overdenture
An Implant Supported Overdenture is a contemporary restoration that has revolutionized the way surgeons and dentists think of replacing a full set of teeth. Standard dentures are unsecured prostheses with inherent limitations. Most often, dentures are painful, inconvenient and unstable. Such dentures can make chewing foods difficult, limiting the foods that you once enjoyed. Modern dentistry can help with implant supported dentures.
The Implant Supported Overdenture treatment concept replaces your missing teeth with a full dental bridge supported by dental implants.
Bone Grafting
Bone grafting can repair implant sites with inadequate bone structure due to previous extractions, gum disease, or injuries. The bone is either obtained from a tissue bank or your own bone is taken from the jaw, hip or tibia (below the knee).
Orthognathic Surgery (Jaw Surgery)
Orthognathic surgery is needed when the top and bottom jaws don’t meet correctly and/or teeth don’t adequately fit within the jaw. Teeth are straightened with orthodontics, and corrective jaw surgery repositions a misaligned jaw. This not only improves facial appearance but also ensures that teeth meet correctly and function properly.
Tooth Extraction
A tooth extraction is a dental procedure where a tooth is removed from its socket in the bone. It's typically done for various reasons, such as severe decay, damage, or overcrowding. The process involves loosening the tooth in its socket and then carefully removing it.