Wisdom Teeth: Keep, Pull or Wait?

While some people choose to keep their wisdom teeth, it’s usually recommended to have them removed to prevent pain or other dental symptoms down the road. Thankfully, it’s a simple, common procedure with a short recovery. If you’re dealing with painful, impacted wisdom teeth, we’ve got answers to all of your questions about wisdom teeth surgery. BEFORE YOU GO How do I know if I need wisdom teeth removal surgery? If your wisdom teeth don’t have enough space to come in straight, they’ll come in sideways or turned, which causes impaction with your other teeth. You may not even feel it, but dentists can see whether your wisdom teeth are coming in straight or not when you go in for your usual check-up. However, people often experience toothaches, jaw pain, and even headaches when their wisdom teeth are impacted. What if I don’t go for wisdom teeth removal now? If your wisdom teeth have come in without any pain, you don’t necessarily need to have them removed. However, there’s always a chance they’ll shift over time, causing impaction on your other teeth, which is painful and potentially damaging to your gums and teeth. Leaving your wisdom teeth in can also lead to gum disease and tooth decay. Make sure you keep seeing your dentist regularly (twice a year!) so that he or she can keep an eye on your wisdom teeth. How do I choose the right oral surgeon for wisdom tooth removal? If your dentist is not an oral surgeon already, ask him or her for a recommendation. Then, do your research. Find out what insurance the surgeon takes, what their specialties are, and what their dental school background is like. Look for reviews online to get a sense of the surgeon’s reputation. WHAT TO EXPECT How much does wisdom tooth extraction cost? The cost of having your wisdom teeth removed will vary depending on the oral surgeon you see and whether or not you use general anesthesia. The price tag generally ranges from around $200 to upwards of $800 without insurance. How long does wisdom tooth removal take? Wisdom teeth removal takes around an hour to an hour and a half. Typically, you’ll fill out the necessary paperwork and you will be shown to operatory where the procedure will happen. The dentist or oral surgeon will speak with you and he or she should give you an idea of what’s going to happen so you’ll know what to expect. What is the recovery like for wisdom tooth removal? The dentist will put gauze over the incisions to help stop the bleeding. You should eat soft foods or drink liquids only, and he or she will prescribe pain medication if you feel its necessary. You can also use ice packs to reduce swelling, which many patients have reported to work great. At DeJesus Dental Group, we can consult you on your wisdom teeth extraction. If they need not be removed right away, we’ll advise you to monitor them and see us when necessary to assess your dental health. Our offices are in Bridgeport and Shelton where we see patients for a variety of dental services. We have a full staff of hygienists, a periodontist, orthodontist and general dentists.  Our administrative staff can help you with anything from insurance to financing your dental work. You can call us at (203) 372-1220 or (203) 378-9737.