Wisdom Tooth Extractions – Morgan Hill, CA

What are Wisdom Teeth?

In short, wisdom teeth are the third set of molars. They typically make an appearance in a person’s late teens or early twenties. With that said, there are some patients who don’t develop them at all! That’s why it’s so important for our dentist in Morgan Hill, Dr. Hong, to take new X-rays every year. This ensures that she can monitor what’s going on underneath the gumline and, if necessary, perform an extraction.

Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?

Some people go their whole lives without their wisdom teeth causing trouble. In fact, removing them is only necessary if a problem could occur otherwise. For example, the wisdom teeth might:

• Not have sufficient room to erupt past the gumline, becoming impacted (stuck) and causing pain.
• Only emerge partially, making them difficult to clean and increasing the risk of tooth decay and infections.
• Damage them and/or push them out of alignment.

What to Expect from the Wisdom Teeth Procedure

The extraction process will look a bit different depending on whether or not the tooth in question is trapped underneath the gumline. If that’s the case, then an incision needs to be made in the gums first. Then, the tooth can be removed section by section, and we can tend to the extraction site. Conversely, if the tooth has already broken through the gumline, then we can simply grip it, rock it loose, and remove it.

Recovering From Wisdom Teeth Extraction

To ensure you can heal comfortably at home, our dentist in Morgan Hill will provide you with a list of aftercare instructions, like:

• Sticking to a liquid diet for the first 24 hours (no straws)
• Not smoking, spitting, or exercising
• Brushing and flossing carefully, especially around the extraction site
• Taking prescribed or OTC pain medication as directed
• Keeping your head elevated, even while you sleep
• Changing the gauze pads as needed

As the days go on, you should feel progressively better. If you’re continuing to experience soreness, discomfort, and sensitivity after the one-week mark, then let us know.

Understanding the Cost of Wisdom Tooth Extractions

Wisdom teeth were likely helpful for our early ancestors, but today they seem to do more harm than good. A high percentage of people don’t have enough room in their mouths to accommodate wisdom teeth, so they need to be removed. However, this procedure is often put off due to fear of cost. Everyone’s treatment is a little bit different, so the cost can vary. During your consultation, we will discuss the exact cost of your treatment. Until then, here’s what you should take into consideration.

Factors That Can Impact the Cost of Wisdom Tooth Extractions

The cost of wisdom tooth extractions can vary. Here are the main factors that influence this.

• Number of Teeth: Some people don’t develop all four of their wisdom teeth. Others may not need all of them taken out. We will examine your smile and determine the best treatment course for you.
• Impaction: If you have wisdom teeth that are impacted, the procedure is more complex. This can lengthen the treatment time, increasing the cost.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Wisdom Tooth Extractions?

Wisdom tooth extractions are normally considered to be a “major restorative procedure” by dental insurance providers. This means that after your yearly deductible has been met, and before you have reached your maximum, the procedure is likely to be covered at about 50%. However, this can vary depending on your plan. At Timeless Smiles Morgan Hill, we are proud to be in-network with numerous popular dental insurance providers and can process and file claims for nearly every PPO dental plan!

How to Make Wisdom Tooth Extractions Affordable

If you don’t have dental insurance, this doesn’t mean that you are completely out of luck. We are happy to accept payments through various third-party financing companies that can split the cost of your treatment into manageable monthly installments with little to no interest. These include CareCredit and Alphaeon Credit. If you have any questions or need help applying, give us a call!