Wisdom Tooth Extractions – Denver, CO
Safely Remove Your Unneeded Teeth
Around the late teens and early twenties, the wisdom teeth attempt to erupt. However, because of the lack of space, they’re more likely to get stuck under the gums or crowd the other teeth. Fortunately, Dr. Luke can help patients dealing with the pain and oral health issues caused by problematic wisdom teeth by removing them without having to send them to a separate specialist. So, if you or someone in your family is struggling with chronic jaw pain and other abnormal symptoms, call us to schedule a consultation at our Denver dental office.
Why Choose Riviera Family Dentistry of Denver for Wisdom Tooth Extractions?
- Multiple Forms of Sedation Available
- Skilled and Experienced Team
- We're Open on Saturdays
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Even if you’ve heard the term “wisdom teeth” over the years, you may not be sure what they are. Essentially, they are the third set of molars, which typically make an appearance between the ages of 16 and 25. While some patients have all four, others have three, two, or even just one. If they grow in straight and there is enough room in your mouth, you may not have to get them removed. If they cause problems, then that’s a different story, of course.
Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?
While it’s uncommon, there are times when you’ll be able to keep your wisdom teeth. They only really need to be removed if they are currently causing problems or are likely to lead to issues if they’re left alone. For example, the American Dental Association recommends that wisdom teeth be removed if you’re experiencing:
- Repeated infections in the area
- Cysts or tumors
- Damage to nearby teeth
- Gum disease and tooth decay in the area in question
What to Expect from the Wisdom Teeth Procedure
Naturally, this emergency dental service requires a lot of skill, precision, and experience, which Dr. Luke has. If your wisdom teeth have already broken through the gumline, then he will thoroughly numb your mouth before using special tools to remove them. Of course, if they are impacted beneath the gumline, then the process of removing them will be a bit different. In that case, we’ll numb your mouth, make an incision in your gums, and remove the wisdom tooth in sections.
Recovering from Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Immediately following the surgery, gauze will be placed over the surgical area. It should be kept there for about half an hour to stop the bleeding. During this time, it’s important that you avoid touching the surgical area to prevent further bleeding. You should also take pain medication if you experience any discomfort, and plan on a diet of liquid and soft foods for the next few days. You can apply ice packs to the side of your face in intervals to reduce any swelling that has occurred. You should feel significantly better by the five-day mark, so make sure you contact us if that’s not the case.
Understanding the Cost of Wisdom Tooth Extractions
Sometimes, patients hesitate to receive dental treatment because they’re afraid of the costs. We want you to receive the care you need, especially if your wisdom teeth are causing discomfort, but we also understand the importance of a budget.
The information we’ve put together below can help you get an idea of what to expect when it comes to wisdom tooth extraction expenses, as well as various ways to make dental treatment more affordable. If you have any questions or would like more information, contact our office – we’d be happy to provide more details!
Factors That Can Impact the Cost of Wisdom Tooth Extractions
Part of what makes understanding the cost of wisdom tooth extractions a little tricky is that every patient’s oral situation is unique. Several factors affect the price of this treatment, and it wouldn’t really benefit you if we simply made guesses before getting a closer look at your teeth. After Dr. Luke examines your third molars during your initial consultation, we’ll be able to provide a much more accurate and precise number.
In the meantime, it would be useful to know what factors we consider for wisdom tooth extraction costs. Here’s how you can expect them to affect your overall expenses:
- Removing two or more third molars will cost more than removing one.
- Type of extraction. There are two types of extractions: simple extractions and impacted extractions. Often (but not always), wisdom teeth require an impacted extraction, which means minor oral surgery and higher costs.
- Anesthesia and sedation. Keep in mind that anesthesia is calculated as a separate expense – as well as sedation dentistry services.
- Follow up orthodontics. Sometimes wisdom teeth shift other pearly whites out of alignment, even if they were perfectly straight before. We recommend patients account for this when tallying up the math.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Wisdom Tooth Extractions?
Not all dental insurance plans are the same, but most policies will cover roughly 50% of wisdom tooth extraction costs after the annual deductible is met. We’re in-network with many different PPO plans and will help you file claims regardless of your network status, so it’s worth double-checking the details of your policy. If you need some guidance with navigating your dental insurance benefits, let us know. We’d be happy to help you decipher the jargon!
Other Ways to Make Wisdom Tooth Extractions More Affordable
Dental insurance can be a blessing when it comes to affording care, but we recognize not everyone has access to it. That’s why we proudly work with CareCredit and Sunbit to provide flexible financing options for our patients.
As third-party lenders, they offer little-to-no interest payment plans that break your total bill down into monthly installments – sort of like a monthly subscription service. If you think these plans could benefit you, give us a call. We’ll help you get started and make sure you have everything you need to apply!
Wisdom Tooth Extractions FAQs
Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth?
While today wisdom teeth seem to be more trouble than they’re worth, back in the days of our early human ancestors, they were actually quite beneficial! You see, early humans used to survive on diets of raw foods like meats, berries, nuts, roots, and leaves. They didn’t have utensils or cooking methods back then, so to chew them they needed a broader jaw and stronger molars.
Thankfully for them, their jaws were much larger, so wisdom teeth rarely caused issues. In fact, they were very helpful, as they served to replace molars worn down by their primitive diets.
Today, we soften our food by cooking, baking, cutting, or other methods of preparation, so our wisdom teeth are no longer necessary. Worse yet, because most people’s jaws aren’t wide enough to accommodate wisdom teeth, they can cause a variety of problems like crowding and impaction when they erupt!
Does Everyone Have Wisdom Teeth?
While many people do have all four of their wisdom teeth, there are occasionally some people who are missing at least one, and some may have none. In fact, a recent study published in the Dental Research Journal found that between 5% and 37% of people are missing at least one wisdom tooth!
It is unknown why some people never develop their third molars, but genetics are believed to be a factor. If one of your parents is missing a wisdom tooth, you may be as well.
Be aware, however, that just because you don’t see your wisdom teeth doesn’t mean they’re not there. Sometimes only a dental X-ray can reveal how many wisdom teeth you have. Most people’s wisdom teeth will erupt between the ages of 17 and 21; however, it is possible to get them earlier or later than this.
Is Wisdom Tooth Removal Painful?
The first step to removing your wisdom teeth is always to numb your mouth with a local anesthetic. You may also be sedated, which will limit your body’s ability to register pain. Thus, the extraction procedure itself should be completely painless, however you may feel some slight pressure as the teeth are gently rocked back and forth in their sockets.
Following your procedure, it is normal to feel some soreness and general discomfort, however following Dr. Vernon’s aftercare guidelines will help ensure that you feel much better in about a week.
What’s the Best Age to Get Wisdom Teeth Removed?
While there’s no specific, universal age by which you should have your wisdom teeth extracted, it is generally agreed that the sooner you have them removed, the better. Removing them later in life is still possible; however, the procedure and recovery are usually much easier when the patient is younger. This is because as you age, the roots of your wisdom teeth grow longer and more embedded in your jaw, making removal more complicated in older patients, and potentially extending their recovery time.
Another benefit of removing them at a younger age is that patients who are still in high school or college can schedule the procedure around long weekends and school breaks.
If Dr. Vernon has recommended wisdom tooth extraction, it is best to do it as soon as possible to lower your risk of impaction, cysts, decay, and even damage to nearby teeth.