Richland Dental offers wisdom tooth extractions in Richardson for both teens and adults. Dr. Siddharth Talsania and Dr. Mansi Talsania provide this service to help prevent crowding in the mouth and other dental complications. You can schedule a consultation with our dentists for more information about this treatment by calling our office at 972-231-0799. We are excited to help support your oral health.
Wisdom teeth are also known as third molars. They are often the last teeth to erupt from the gumline, and as such, the mouth usually does not have enough space for them to grow in properly. They were useful for our ancient ancestors and their rough diets, but thanks to advances in cooking methods (and a jaw that has gradually gotten smaller over time), they tend to just cause problems for most people.
If the wisdom teeth cannot fit, they may come in at odd angles or become impacted, a condition where they are stuck in the gums and jawbone. This may lead to several harmful dental conditions, such as:
To avoid these, our dentists may recommend having the wisdom teeth removed.
Your mouth and bite will be carefully examined by our dentists to see if wisdom teeth removal is necessary for the health of your smile. If it is, we will consult with you so that you know what to expect before, during, and after the procedure.
If the teeth have mostly erupted, we can extract them like we would a regular tooth. However, impacted wisdom teeth require a more surgical approach, in which case we may refer you to a local specialist to ensure you receive the attention you need.
Following a wisdom tooth extraction, a blood clot needs to form over the treatment area. To ensure this happens, a patient should avoid spitting, using a straw, smoking, or doing strenuous physical activity for at least the first 24 hours. The gauze should be changed every couple of hours for the first few days, and any pain medication needs to be taken as directed to keep the patient comfortable.
It’s also important that they follow a soft food diet and gradually introduce tougher items as their mouth heals over the course of a week. After that amount of time, a person should be able to resume their normal routine.
Many people think of wisdom tooth extraction as a rite of passage for people in their late teens or early twenties, and a significant number of older individuals also elect to undergo this procedure. Even if you are sick of the constant pain your emerging wisdom teeth can bring you, you’re probably still interested in knowing how much it will cost to remove them. Here’s a brief guide to the cost of wisdom tooth extraction at Richland Dental, but please contact our staff if you have any questions not answered here.
There are several factors that largely determine the overall cost of wisdom tooth extraction, and we will take care to discuss them in detail with you during your consultation. These factors include:
The number of teeth to be removed: While most people have all four wisdom teeth, some are born with only three, two, one, or none. Each tooth removed will be noted on the final bill.
If your wisdom teeth are impacted: Impacted wisdom teeth fail to emerge completely from the gum, and they are more expensive to remove since they are harder to access. In cases of soft tissue impaction, the tooth is submerged partially or completely beneath the gum tissue, but a bony impaction involves the tooth being stuck within the jawbone, making it even more difficult to remove.
Anesthesia options: Your extraction may require local or general anesthesia, and the cost of the appropriate treatment will be reflected on your bill.
While not all dental insurance plans cover dental surgeries, most will cover wisdom tooth extractions at least in part since they are considered medically necessary. The amount covered mostly depends on whether you’ve met your maximum or deductible for the year, and the best way to know exactly what your policy will pay for is to contact your insurance company directly. Choosing a provider who is in-network can also help reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.
While we accept most PPO dental insurance providers at our Richardson office, we understand that many patients are uninsured or underinsured. To help these people get the care they need, we offer financing options through CareCredit, a third-party lender that can break your bill into small monthly payments that are easy to manage with little or no interest. We’ll be happy to help you navigate your insurance policy and financing options, so please feel free to contact us if you need assistance.
There are some things we recommend across the board, like not drinking alcohol, buying soft foods, and arranging for someone to drive you to and from your appointment. There are also some specific instructions we may provide you, like fasting prior to your procedure. Ultimately, it’s best to get in touch with us beforehand so we can review what to do as well as what not to do. That way, you’re set up for success!
If your appointment is still a few days or weeks away, you can ease discomfort stemming from your wisdom teeth by using cold compresses, rinsing with warm saltwater, and taking OTC pain medication. Many of the same best practices are recommended during the recovery period to alleviate discomfort, reduce inflammation, and prevent complications, like dry sockets. If soreness, sensitivity, or pain persists beyond the five-day mark or seems to be getting worse, then contact us ASAP so we can make sure an infection hasn’t developed.
Don’t worry – the process of removing your wisdom teeth won’t hurt because we numb your mouth thoroughly beforehand. Even the recovery will be pretty smooth sailing with the help of the aftercare instructions we give you, like taking OTC pain medication as directed and avoiding crunchy, sticky, and acidic foods. So, make sure you follow those to a tee!
There are some cases where wisdom teeth don’t need to be removed. That said, even if your third molars aren’t causing you pain now, that doesn’t mean they won’t lead to problems like cysts, tooth decay, and infections in the future. That’s why it’s so important to visit our Richardson dentist for a dental exam every six months. This ensures that we can monitor the development of your wisdom teeth and, when/if a time comes where they are negatively impacting your oral health, we can remove them.
It usually takes a few hours for the numbing agent to wear off. You can eat at this point, but make sure that you stick to extremely soft foods, like vegetable soup, and that you check the temperature beforehand. It’s also important that you abide by the other aftercare instructions we provide, like not using a straw or spitting. This will help prevent everything from uncomfortable sensitivity to a dry socket.
A dry socket is when the blood clot is pulled out of place. In addition to resulting in considerable discomfort, this also delays the healing process. The good news is that there are several things you can do to reduce your risk, like not smoking, using a straw, or spitting. You should also brush very carefully around the extraction site, eat only extremely soft foods, and drink lots of water to stay hydrated.
Are you ready to start your smile journey? We would love to have you, and we invite you to call our office for an appointment. Whether you’re interested in preventive care, Invisalign , sleep apnea treatment , or something else, we look forward to warmly welcoming you to our dental family.
908 AUDELIA ROAD, STE. 400, RICHARDSON, TX 75081 (972) 231-0799 Get directions