Third molars, also called wisdom teeth, are the last adult teeth to develop. They usually develop between the ages of 17 and 25. Although they once served an essential purpose in assisting early humans in chewing tough, raw food, modern diets and smaller jawbones frequently render these teeth unnecessary and troublesome. Many people do not have enough space in their jaws to accommodate them, and this causes complications like impaction, crowding, infection, or damage to adjacent teeth.
This is why the extraction of wisdom teeth has become one of the most popular oral surgical procedures, and millions of such extractions occur annually. When your wisdom teeth are painful, swollen, or otherwise affecting oral health, their early removal will help avoid severe long-term consequences and relieve your pain.
At Agoura Hills Advanced Dentistry, we specialize in safe, effective, patient-centered wisdom tooth extraction. Whether you are experiencing symptoms or require a preventive assessment, our experienced dental team will assist you.
Understanding Wisdom Teeth and Why Removal May Be Necessary
The final molars to come out are called wisdom teeth, and they typically emerge in your late teens or early twenties. While some people experience no issues, most encounter problems because their jaws lack the space to accommodate these additional teeth. Consequently, wisdom teeth tend to erupt at odd angles or be partially stuck under the gum line, a condition called impaction.
Misaligned or impacted wisdom teeth can exert pressure on adjacent teeth, inflame the gums, or create areas that trap bacteria. You may not feel the problem immediately, but with time, these teeth may cause infection, tooth decay, bone loss, and even destruction of adjacent roots.
The following are common symptoms that your wisdom teeth are problematic:
- Gum or jaw swelling
- Pain or tenderness at the back of your mouth
- Difficulty opening your mouth
- Bad breath or a lingering bad taste
- Bleeding or inflamed gums around the erupting tooth
- Crowding or shifting of your other teeth
Your wisdom teeth may not be causing you pain, but it is frequently advised to have them removed early. Having them extracted before they are impacted or infected makes healing smoother and prevents you from developing more serious dental problems.
Risks of Keeping Impacted Wisdom Teeth
When your wisdom teeth are impacted, trapped under the gum line, or growing in the wrong direction, they make you uncomfortable. Also, when left untreated, they may trigger severe dental and health issues like:
Gum Inflammation and Infections
An impacted wisdom tooth usually forms a gap between the tooth and the gum, in which bacteria may build up. This may cause painful inflammation of the gums, frequent infections, and even abscesses. When it becomes infected, it may rapidly extend to the neighboring tissues and affect your general oral health.
Tooth Crowding and Misalignment
Wisdom teeth push against the surrounding molars as they attempt to come out. This pressure may make your teeth move out of position, destroying years of orthodontics or natural spacing. You might feel your bite is tight, your lower front teeth are crowded, or your smile has even changed.
Damage to the Jaw and Cyst Development
The affected teeth may cause the formation of cysts or fluid-filled pouches within your jawbone. When left untreated, these cysts can enlarge and destroy the neighboring bone, nerves, and adjacent teeth. In worse scenarios, benign tumors may develop, and surgical treatment may be necessary besides mere removal.
Sinus Complications and Wider Health Risks
The upper wisdom teeth are near the sinuses. When these molars are infected or develop in the wrong direction, they may press against the sinus cavities, potentially causing discomfort, sinus pressure, or recurrent sinus infections in some cases. Also, chronic oral inflammation has been linked to systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes due to the body’s inflammatory response.
How to Prepare for Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Your wisdom tooth extraction can be less stressful and smoother with proper preparation. Whether it is your first oral surgery or you have undergone some dental procedures in the past, knowing what to expect and what to do beforehand can help calm your nerves and recover quicker.
Preoperative Preparation
Begin by following all directions from your dentist or oral surgeon. You might be required to fast for 6 to 8 hours before the procedure, particularly when sedation or general anesthesia is to be administered. Plan your time so that you can have some rest after the surgery. Most patients require 24 to 48 hours of rest, so take off a couple of days of work, school, or other commitments.
Questions You Should Ask Your Dentist
The best time to ask important questions is during your pre-surgery consultation, and these questions include:
- How many wisdom teeth are going to be removed?
- Will it affect the teeth?
- What anesthesia or sedation will be applied?
- What will the duration of the process be?
- What can I anticipate in the recovery process?
- Which drugs can I take or not take before and after surgery?
It is not a bad idea to carry a list of concerns. The better you know, the more comfortable you will be with the procedure.
What to Bring, Wear, and Avoid
Wear loose clothes on surgery day. Do not wear makeup, nail polish, jewelry, or contact lenses. Bring your ID, insurance card, and any prescribed medications, particularly if you have been advised to take them beforehand. You can also carry a soft ice pack or reusable cold pack to use on the way home.
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your procedure unless told to do so. Stop smoking or using tobacco at least 12 hours before surgery to minimize your risk of complications, and longer if you can.
Arranging Transportation and Post-Op Care
After surgery, you will not be fit to drive, particularly when sedation is employed. Ensure you bring someone you trust to take you to and from your appointment. Having a person accompany you during the initial hours at home is also useful, especially when sleepy or wobbly.
Prepare soft foods, fill prescriptions, and create a comfortable recovery area at home. The small things that matter as you recover, such as additional pillows, entertainment, and access to water, are essential.
The Procedure of Wisdom Tooth Extraction
The more you know what to expect during your wisdom tooth extraction day, the more relaxed you will feel and the less out of control. Although every situation is different, the general process is more or less the same, particularly when you are in the care of experienced professionals.
What to Expect on the Surgery Day
Upon arrival at your appointment, one of our team members will discuss your medical history and explain the procedure. You can also pose last-minute questions before the dentist or oral surgeon starts. The surgery usually lasts between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the number of teeth extracted and whether they are impacted.
Sedation and Anesthesia Alternatives
Your comfort is one of the priorities. Your provider may prescribe one of the following, depending on your medical history, the complexity of the procedure, and personal preference:
- Local Anesthesia—It numbs the immediate area of extraction. You will not be asleep, but you will not feel pain.
- IV Sedation—This is given via a vein in your arm. You will be awake but very relaxed and probably not recall the procedure.
- General Anesthesia—Applied in more complicated cases. During the extraction, you will be completely asleep.
Your dental team will clarify the procedure to be used before the procedure begins and make sure you are very comfortable.
Step-by-Step Procedure
- Numbing or Sedation—After you are prepped, you are given anesthesia or sedation to make you comfortable.
- Incision—If the tooth is impacted, the dentist will open a small incision on your gum to expose the tooth and the bone.
- Bone Removal if Necessary—Sometimes, a little bit of bone that covers the tooth can be removed to expose the tooth.
- Tooth Sectioning—This facilitates extraction by cutting the tooth into small parts.
- Tooth Removal—The dentist removes the tooth pieces using special tools by carefully lifting them.
- Cleaning the Site—The site is thoroughly swept of debris or bone fragments.
- Stitching—In case of necessity, the gum tissue is closed with dissolvable stitches.
- Gauze Placement—A gauze is placed over the extraction area to assist in the formation of a blood clot and stop the bleeding.
You will then spend some time in the recovery room and go home, usually within an hour.
What to Expect During the Healing Phase
The initial days of your wisdom tooth removal are critical for healing well. Your recovery process may go well or become complicated, depending on how you handle it. The good news? With your provider’s proper attention and assistance, you will recover quickly.
Managing Pain, Swelling, and Bleeding
There will be some pain and slight bleeding during the first 24 hours. Your dentist will provide you with gauze to bite on to prevent bleeding and encourage clot formation. Ensure you change it when directed, and do not spit hard because it may loosen the clot.
The swelling usually peaks after two to three days. Apply an ice pack (15 to 20 minutes), particularly within the initial 48 hours. In case of pain, use your prescribed or over-the-counter medications as prescribed. Do not use aspirin since it can thin the blood and increase bleeding.
What to Eat and What to Avoid
Soft, nutritious foods should follow the initial few days, for example:
- Mashed potatoes
- Scrambled eggs
- Yogurt
- Smoothies. Do not use straws
- Applesauce
- Soups or blended soups
Do not eat hard, crunchy, spicy, or chewy food until your dentist approves. They may irritate the extraction site or damage the healing tissue.
Safe Mouth Cleaning
Oral hygiene remains significant. However, you will have to be gentle. No brushing, rinsing, or flossing during the first 24 hours. Then, continue to brush the non-surgical areas with care. Warm salt water (not mouthwash) rinses every few hours and after meals. Do not swish or brush the extraction site vigorously or with your toothbrush.
When to Call Your Dentist
Some symptoms, such as mild swelling, bruising, or difficulty opening your mouth, are normal. However, when you observe any of the following, call your dentist as soon as possible:
- Pain that does not go away or gets worse after 3 days
- An uncontrolled hemorrhage that does not cease with gauze
- Fever or chills
- Breathing or swallowing difficulties
- Pus or bad taste in the extraction area
- A feeling of numbness in your tongue, lips, or chin that does not disappear
When treated in time, complications can be avoided, and healing can occur.
Common Complications and How to Avoid Them
Wisdom tooth extractions are standard procedures, but there are times when complications may occur. Most problems can be avoided, and when you are in the hands of skilled specialists, you are much safer. Nevertheless, knowing what pitfalls may occur and how to prevent them is useful.
Dry Socket
The most frequent complication of tooth extraction is a dry socket. It occurs when the blood clot that covers the surgical site is displaced or fails to develop. In the absence of that clot, the underlying nerves and bone are left exposed, resulting in severe pain that radiates to the ear or the temple.
How to prevent it:
- Stop using straws for at least 7 days
- Do not smoke or vape
- Do not rinse hard or spit hard
- Take all aftercare precautions
If you get a dry socket, your dentist will clean the area and apply a medicated dressing to facilitate healing and relieve pain.
Chronic Pain or Swelling
Mild swelling and discomfort are normal and usually last a few days. Continued or increasing symptoms may indicate a complication such as infection.
Prevention tips:
- Follow your medication prescription
- The first 48 hours should be treated with cold compresses
- Maintain it clean with warm salt water rinses
- Do not poke or disturb the site with your tongue or fingers
You should call your dentist when your swelling or pain fails to improve or worsens after three days.
Restricted Jaw Movement (Trismus)
Some patients develop stiffness or difficulty opening their mouths wide, particularly when the surgery is long or complicated. This is called trismus and is temporary.
Handy remedies are:
- Use of moist heat on the jaw
- Light stretching exercises after several days (only with permission)
- Drinking water and not chewing hard food
Usually, trismus can be treated within one week, particularly through self-care.
Nerve Damage and How Rare It Is
Temporary or, in rare cases, permanent nerve damage is one of the rare complications. The most vulnerable nerves are the inferior alveolar nerve and lingual nerve, which assist you in experiencing sensations in the lower lip, chin, and tongue.
This complication is infrequent in competent hands. Mild nerve irritation tends to disappear without treatment within weeks or months. You should always request that your dentist tell you your particular risk according to your X-rays and the position of your teeth.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction Cost
The price of wisdom teeth extraction may differ, depending on your case and the extraction method required. Knowing what will happen financially can help you plan without being caught off guard.
Average Cost Price
In the case of a simple extraction, when the tooth is entirely erupted and can be removed without any difficulties, you may pay between 75 and 250 dollars per tooth. However, the cost increases significantly when your wisdom teeth are impacted (they are stuck in the gum or bone). Impacted teeth typically cost $200 to $600 per tooth for surgical extractions.
When all four wisdom teeth have to be extracted, and general anesthesia is necessary, the total price may reach up to $1,000-3,000 or even more.
Factors Influencing Pricing
The total cost of your wisdom tooth extraction is dependent on several factors:
- Extraction type: Whether simple or surgical
- The number of teeth to be removed
- Depth/degree of impaction and the position of teeth
- The kind of anesthesia or sedation administered
- Provider experience and credentials
- Facility fees, particularly when done in a surgical center
Insurance Considerations
Most dental insurance plans partly cover the removal of wisdom teeth, particularly when the removal is medically necessary. It may cover:
- A part of the consultation and imaging
- General or local anesthesia
- The real extraction process
- Aftercare medications
It is a good idea to check your benefits beforehand. Your dentist will happily verify your benefits and help you maximize your insurance.
Find Safe Wisdom Teeth Extraction Services Near Me
If you experience symptoms, failure to receive the required treatment on time may cause unnecessary pain, infection, or permanent dental problems. When you are having symptoms or have been recommended to have your wisdom teeth removed, do not hesitate. The sooner you do it, the easier it will be to recover.
Choosing a reliable dentist is better for something as serious as your oral health. Agoura Hills Advanced Dentistry combines professional services with the ultimate comfort. We will assist you at all the steps of the wisdom tooth removal process, including the first consultation, post-operative check-ups, and follow-ups.
To book your appointment or learn more about wisdom tooth extraction in Agoura Hills, call us today at 818-878-7300.