Wisdom Tooth Extractions – Los Gatos, CA
Remove Problematic Teeth Safely and Comfortably
Our team of dentists does everything possible to help you retain your natural teeth, which is why we consider tooth removal to be a last resort. With that said, wisdom teeth often pose many long-term oral health concerns that usually necessitate their removal. If we recommend that you undergo wisdom tooth extractions in Los Gatos, we’ll break down exactly why we recommend it, what you can expect from your treatment, and how you can increase your chances of a speedy and successful recovery.
Why Choose Los Gatos Dental Group for Wisdom Tooth Extractions?
- Experienced Dental Team
- Sedation Available
- Friendly & Welcoming Environment
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
The wisdom teeth are the third set of molars at the back of the mouth. They are called wisdom teeth because they usually develop when a person is in their teen years, when they are older and “wiser” than when the rest of their teeth grew in. Most people develop four of these teeth, one in each quadrant of the mouth. However, some people have fewer or more than four. A small percentage of individuals never develop any wisdom teeth.
Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?
Wisdom teeth do not always have to be removed. If your dentist in Los Gatos determines that yours are not a significant threat to your oral health, you can retain them unless you wish to have them removed as a precautionary measure.
For some people, however, the extractions are necessary. If there is not enough space in your mouth to accommodate your wisdom teeth, they may push other teeth out of place. They also increase your risk of cysts, TMJ pain, decay, and other issues.
If you are experiencing any discomfort, redness, or swelling around your wisdom teeth, you should certainly get them checked out.
What to Expect from the Wisdom Teeth Procedure
You’ll be given a local anesthetic, along with possible sedation, to ensure you do not feel anything during the removal process. Much like a standard tooth extraction, if the tooth is easily visible and has erupted above the gum line, your dentist will gently rock it back and forth in order to break the connective tissues that are holding it in place. Then, they’ll grasp it with a pair of dental forceps and gently remove it from the jaw. You’ll be asked to bite down onto a gauze pad so the socket can begin healing.
Alternatively, if the wisdom tooth is trapped underneath the gums or another tooth (impacted), a small incision is created in the gums so our team can access it. Depending on the orientation of the tooth, we may need to break it into smaller pieces.
Recovering From Wisdom Teeth Extractions
Like with any oral surgery, it is very important that you take time to rest immediately after your wisdom teeth are removed. In terms of aftercare, we recommend:
- Avoiding the use of straws for at least 48 hours
- Sticking to a soft diet for several days
- Avoiding hot, carbonated, and alcoholic drinks that can irritate your surgical sites
- Avoiding tobacco products or forceful spitting
- Using a dedicated mouthwash to keep your treatment area clean as it heals
- Taking all medications as recommended by your dentist
If you run into any concerns during your recovery, don’t hesitate to contact our team.
Understanding the Cost of Wisdom Tooth Extractions
When it comes time for a wisdom tooth extraction, you have plenty on your plate. The last thing you want is to have to worry about how you’re going to afford the treatment.
For that reason, we aim to make paying for care as easy as possible. For reasons that’ll soon become clear, it’s not really possible to tell you what your treatment would cost without meeting your first. However, we do have some information for you that could help you budget for the upcoming treatment.
Factors That Can Impact the Cost of Wisdom Tooth Extractions
The reason that’s it’s difficult to tell you what wisdom tooth extractions generally cost is that every patient is different. There are a host of factors that can contribute to the cost of removing a tooth.
For one, you need to consider the state of the teeth that are being removed. Specifically, whether the teeth are impacted or not has a lot to do with the complexity of your procedure, and therefore what your overall treatment is going to cost.
There are two kinds of impaction: soft, where the tooth has emerged partially from the gums, and bony, where the tooth needs to be removed from the jawbone completely. In the case of the latter, you’ll probably have to deal with an oral surgeon, who will have their own rates for treatment.
Then there are some other factors that you might not have initially considered. For one, how many wisdom teeth do you have? Not everyone is born with all 4, and needing to remove fewer of them may make treatment cheaper. Then there’s the cost of the anesthetics associated with the procedure which incur their own cost.
We’ll talk you through each of these variables when we give you an estimate of what your care will cost.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Wisdom Tooth Extractions?
While it’s not guaranteed that your dental plan will cover oral surgery, most of them will cover at least a portion of your wisdom tooth removal. Of course, that’s provided that you’ve met your deductible, and that you’ve yet to exceed your yearly maximum. We’ll be happy to deal with your insurance company to make sure that you’re taking full advantage of your benefits.
Other Options for Making Wisdom Tooth Extractions Affordable
For patients that don’t have insurance, or even those that do, we have options available to make care a little bit more affordable. For one, we often work with financing firms like CareCredit and LendingClub. These firms allow you to afford treatment upfront, then pay off the bill later on through monthly installments.
Then there’s our in-house savings plan. For a flat annual fee, you can get a host of complimentary preventive services and a 15% discount on other treatments from us.
If your wisdom teeth are bothering you, you don’t just have to grit your teeth and bear it. Give us a call and we’ll try to find a way to make the treatment fit your budget.