Wisdom Tooth Extractions – Raleigh, NC
Safely Removing Problematic Wisdom Teeth
When wisdom teeth erupt (usually between the ages of 17 and 25), they can become stuck under the gums, exert pressure on other teeth, cause pain, and even lead to infection. The good news is our team at Barker, Rohner and Hunt DMD can perform safe, comfortable wisdom tooth extractions at our Raleigh dental office. If you’re ready to have a healthy, pain-free smile again, give us a call to schedule an appointment. You can also read on to learn more about this procedure!
Why Choose Barker, Rohner and Hunt DMD for Wisdom Tooth Extractions?
- Several Dental Sedation Options Available
- We Offer Same-Day Emergency Appointments
- Compassionate Dentists with Advanced Training
What are Wisdom Teeth?
The wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, were quite beneficial for our caveman ancestors who primarily ate crunchy vegetables and uncooked meats. These days, however, most people don’t have enough room in their mouths for these extra teeth, so they end up causing more harm than good. That’s why we monitor their development with a combination of yearly X-rays and biannual dental exams! If they begin to cause problems or pose a risk to your oral health, we will recommend having them removed.
Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?
As we mentioned above, we will carefully monitor your wisdom teeth throughout the years. However, we urge you to call us if you or a family member develops any of the following symptoms:
- A crowded feeling among the molars
- A dull, near-constant ache toward the back of the mouth
- Your bite feels different (your upper and lower teeth don’t come together as they should)
- You’re experiencing a fever in addition to dental pain
What to Expect from the Wisdom Teeth Procedure
Whether we’re removing one of your molars or all four wisdom teeth, the first step of the treatment process is always the same: numbing your mouth. Once you can’t feel anything and you’re ready to begin, your dentist will get to work. Throughout the procedure, they will check in with you to make sure you’re calm and comfortable. Then, when they are done, they will tend to the extraction site, answer any questions you have, and send you home with aftercare instructions.
Important reminder: If you struggle with dental-related anxiety, a fear of needles, or something else that makes getting the dental care you need stressful, let us know! We want your experience at our office to be positive from start to finish.
Recovering from Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Our dentists will give you personalized aftercare instructions to ensure a smooth recovery following your wisdom tooth extraction. In general, these guidelines may include tips like:
- Avoid drinking through a straw, smoking, blowing your nose, or forcefully spitting for the first three days after your procedure.
- Maintain a soft food diet for about a week.
- Brush and floss carefully around the extraction site.
- Use a cold compress for 10 minutes at a time.
- Take any medications that we prescribe for you as directed.
- Avoid strenuous physical exercise, as that could delay healing.
Understanding the Cost of Wisdom Tooth Extractions
The cost of wisdom tooth extractions depends on a few factors. During your consultation, we can share some specific numbers and help you understand your payment options. For example, we welcome insurance and have an in-house discount plan. We want the financial aspect of your care to be as low-stress as possible, so if you have any questions about our pricing policies or other relevant topics, please ask!
Factors That Can Impact the Cost of Wisdom Tooth Extractions
Some factors that might affect the cost of your procedure include:
- The Number of Teeth That Need to Be Removed: Extracting one tooth costs less than removing all four; multiple extractions may increase both procedure and anesthesia fees. (Keep in mind, though, that getting all four wisdom teeth removed at once can be more affordable than four separate procedures for each wisdom tooth.)
- Whether or Not the Teeth Are Impacted: Impacted wisdom teeth, which are stuck below the gumline, require more complex surgical intervention and typically cost more to remove than fully erupted teeth. Also, the type of impaction (whether the teeth are stuck in the bone or soft tissue) can affect pricing.
- The Use of Sedation or Anesthesia: Local anesthesia is usually included in the base cost, but opting for sedation, such as nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, or IV sedation, adds to your overall expense.
- Complexity of the Case: Teeth that are close to nerves or sinuses, or that have unusual root shapes, may increase both the time and the cost of your extraction.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Wisdom Tooth Extractions?
In many cases, dental insurance does cover wisdom tooth extractions. If your teeth are fully erupted, removing them might be classified as a basic procedure, meaning that you could get up to 80% coverage. If you require surgical tooth extractions, the coverage level might be just 50%. Our team welcomes many insurance plans, and we can provide an estimate of your out-of-pocket obligation for your care.
Other Options for Making Wisdom Tooth Extractions Affordable
Beyond insurance, another provision that might make your extractions more affordable is our BRH Concierge Membership plan. In exchange for a reasonable annual fee, you can get all basic preventive care and a 10% discount on additional services, such as wisdom tooth extractions. We also offer convenient low-interest financing through CareCredit.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction FAQs
Do you have an upcoming appointment to have your wisdom teeth removed in Raleigh, but have questions and concerns that you’d like addressed to feel a little more at-ease the day of? Our team at Barker, Rohner & Hunt DMD want to give you the answers you need, which is why we’ve compiled some of the frequently asked questions we get from patients below. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, please feel free to contact our office directly.
Can I keep my wisdom teeth?
Not everyone needs to remove their wisdom teeth. Typically, we only recommend this preventive intervention if they pose a risk to your oral health. Some of these risks include:
- Causing crowding due to lack of room in your mouth.
- Increased risk of infection if they’re impacted below the gumline.
- Pain as a result of them growing in.
- Risk of damage to the bone and soft tissue due to cysts forming in the sacs.
If these risks don’t apply to you, or undergoing treatment poses more downsides than upsides, your dentist may recommend just letting them grow in.
How should I prepare for my wisdom tooth extraction?
Before your procedure, our team will provide you with pre-operative instructions to follow, and if you have any questions or concerns, regardless of how minor they may seem, please don’t hesitate to contact our team. Typically, these pre-op instructions include:
- Arrange for someone to drive you to and from our office, as you’ll likely receive sedation.
- Come with a complete list of the medications you take, including any daily vitamins, allergy medications, etc.
- Don’t smoke before or directly after your procedure.
- Wear comfortable, loose clothing.
- Stock up on soft foods to eat.
What’s the best age to get wisdom teeth removed?
Wisdom teeth typically grow in between the ages of 16 and 23, but it’s best to have them removed as early as possible, before they’ve grown more deeply connected with the jawbone and surrounding tissues.
Should wisdom teeth be removed before getting braces?
If you’re looking to undergo Invisalign treatment, your dentist may recommend having your wisdom teeth removed beforehand to make sure your teeth have enough room in your mouth to remain aligned. If you don’t, you may notice that as your wisdom teeth grow in, your teeth may become crowded, erasing the progress you’ve made with orthodontic treatment.
Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth?
People often take modern food preparation techniques for granted, but the truth is that humans needed the large third molars called wisdom teeth to grind their meals of raw plant and animal matter into easily digestible pulps before cooking was invented. Since then, human jawbones have become smaller on average since they don’t need to work as hard to chew, and many people do not have enough room in their mouths to accommodate their wisdom teeth when they erupt in their late teens or early twenties. The emergence of the wisdom teeth when there isn’t enough space for them can lead to a host of issues like chronic pain, oral infections, crowding, dental misalignments, teeth grinding, and aches of the head, back, or neck. In cases like these, it is often best to painlessly extract the wisdom teeth to protect the patient’s oral health. However, some research suggests that people who eat a tougher diet in early childhood are more likely to develop jawbones with enough room to accommodate their wisdom teeth.
How Do You Make Wisdom Teeth Pain Go Away?
While the only permanent solution to the pain caused by the wisdom teeth is to have them removed by a qualified dentist, there are a few ways to achieve temporary relief until then. A few of these include:
- Wrapping a towel around an ice pack and holding it against the outside of the cheek for twenty minutes at a time. Repeating this every few hours can help reduce pain and swelling.
- Using over-the-counter pain relievers according to the instructions printed on the label.
- Applying a topical oral analgesic that contains benzocaine to sooth irritated gum tissue.
- Rinsing your mouth with a solution of a quarter teaspoon of salt per eight ounces of warm water to reduce swelling and kill harmful bacteria. Be sure to spit it out instead of swallowing and to repeat as needed throughout the day.
How Long Does Wisdom Tooth Surgery Take?
Most patients having their wisdom teeth removed will receive a form of sedation that makes it seem like no time at all passes during the procedure. It usually takes between fifteen and twenty minutes to remove a single wisdom tooth, and removing all four can take up to ninety minutes. However, the time it takes to remove a wisdom tooth can vary depending on how it is angled, how deep it is in the gum tissue, and whether it is impacted. Dr. Hunt, Rohner, or Barker will be happy to provide you with a proper estimate of how long your treatment will take during your consultation.
