Wisdom Tooth Extraction – Forest, VA
Find Relief from Your Troubled Wisdom Teeth
The wisdom teeth typically begin to emerge in a person’s late teens or early twenties, and many people do not have enough room to accommodate them when they erupt. This can lead to a wide range of oral health issues such as a loss of dental alignment and destructive oral infections. Here’s a brief guide to wisdom tooth extractions at our office in Forest, but please contact our staff if you wish to know more.
Why Choose Crossroads Family Dentistry for Wisdom Tooth Extraction?
- Skilled and Compassionate Dental Team
- Insurance Welcomed
- Financing Options Available
What are Wisdom Teeth?
The wisdom teeth are the third set of molars and the last teeth to emerge over the course of the mouth’s development. While these big, strong molars once played a crucial role in helping people chew tough plant matter and raw meat before cooking was invented, people today often do not have jawbones large enough to accommodate these teeth. Some people are born with only one, two, or three wisdom teeth, and a few individuals are born with none at all. While it is not always essential to remove these third molars, doing so is the best way for many patients to relieve chronic pain and prevent oral infections.
Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?
Removing a person’s wisdom teeth is necessary if these molars pose a significant threat to their oral health in the long run. The wisdom teeth emerging when there is not enough room for them can lead to serious issues like crowding, chronic pain, impaction, infections or cysts forming around them, and jawbone erosion. You may need your wisdom teeth removed if you experience symptoms such as pain when chewing, stiffness of the jaw, facial swelling, bad breath, or difficulty opening the mouth.
What to Expect from the Wisdom Teeth Procedure
To perform a simple wisdom tooth extraction, one of our dentists will use a specialized device called an elevator to raise the troublesome tooth from its socket before grasping it with forceps and gently working it loose from its connective tissue. However, if the wisdom teeth fail to emerge properly, they become impacted, which makes them much more likely to become infected and requires surgical extraction to resolve. This procedure involves making a small incision in the gum tissue to access the wisdom tooth, which is a service we perform in-house.
Recovering from Wisdom Teeth Extraction
After you have your wisdom teeth removed, you may experience temporary side effects such as facial swelling and bleeding around the surgical areas. While recovering, it’s important to practice excellent oral hygiene that includes brushing and rinsing while taking special care to avoid disturbing the extraction site. You should also abstain from spitting or using a straw, as these actions cause shifting pressures in the mouth that can dislodge the clot forming over the surgical area, resulting in a painful condition called dry socket. It’s crucial to comply with any postoperative instructions we give you such as sticking to a soft diet and taking medications as prescribed. If you have any concerns while recovering, please contact our office.
Understanding the Cost of Wisdom Tooth Extractions
At Crossroads Family Dentistry, we know that the cost of your wisdom tooth extraction is a concern. This is why we strive to help you plan for this essential procedure by offering transparent pricing and financing options to take the strain off your wallet. Read more below to learn more about pricing for wisdom tooth extractions and how we aim to make your care as affordable as possible. Then, reach out to us to schedule your consultation so we can offer you an accurate cost analysis.
Factors That Can Impact the Cost of Wisdom Tooth Extractions
Several factors influence the cost of wisdom tooth extractions. Here are the main points we take into consideration at your consultation:
- Number of Teeth: The more teeth that need to be removed during the procedure, the longer the process will take, increasing its final price.
- Position and Impaction Level: Wisdom teeth that have fully erupted tend to be easier and less costly to extract. However, impacted teeth stuck beneath your gums or in your jawbone often require more complex surgery, making the procedure more costly.
- Who Does the Work: While we perform the vast majority of wisdom tooth extractions in-house, there may be rare occasions when we’ll need to refer you to a specialist. This could affect the final price of your treatment.
Once you come into our Forest office, our team will assess your wisdom teeth with a thorough examination and answer any questions you may have. Then we’ll put together a detailed estimate of your costs, allowing you to decide how you want to approach financing.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Wisdom Tooth Extractions?
Most dental insurance plans offer some coverage for wisdom tooth extractions, especially if the procedure is medically necessary due to pain or other dental complications. That being said, it’s always best to double-check your policy.
Coverage levels and limits can vary, so we recommend contacting your insurance provider or letting us do it for you. We’re happy to help you parse through your benefits and maximize your coverage to reduce your out-of-pocket costs!
Other Options for Making Wisdom Tooth Extractions Affordable
To make wisdom tooth extractions affordable, our practice offers an in-house membership plan, which provides discounts on many essential services. We also partner with CareCredit, allowing you to finance the procedure with flexible, low-interest monthly payments.
Our goal is to provide high-quality, affordable options that fit your budget. So, don’t hesitate to give us a call if you need clarification on anything you find confusing!