Are you a young adult suffering from a persistent toothache or jaw pain that won’t subside? If so, your wisdom teeth may be trying to erupt through your gumline. Although most people are born with these last molars, they tend to cause issues and are so commonly extracted that many consider it a rite of passage into adulthood.
Continue reading to learn more about how our Jacksonville Dental Specialists team can prevent problems by removing troublesome wisdom teeth, and feel free to contact us for additional information!
Wisdom teeth are the last set of molars to arrive years after your other adult teeth have already erupted. They typically show up between 17 and 25 years old, and there are usually four of them; one for each quadrant of the mouth. However, some people only have a few, and others are lucky enough not to be born with any!
It’s believed our ancestors developed them out of necessity to subsist on a tough diet of nuts and roots that would wear down their enamel. Thanks to modern dental care, cooked food, and utensils, they’re now considered a vestigial feature no longer needed for our survival.
These teeth are removed more often than not because they are notorious for causing several oral issues, like:
It might vary slightly based on your unique circumstances, but typically, having wisdom teeth removed is a standard procedure. First, our team will numb or sedate you to ensure that you feel calm and comfortable the entire time. Then, if the tooth has fully cleared your gumline, our team will elevate it from the socket with a special instrument, then grasp it with forceps and gently wiggle it free.
Impacted wisdom teeth may require surgery to be extracted. This involves numbing or sedating you then creating a small incision in the gums to access the tooth in question, which may need to be broken into smaller pieces to be removed from your jawbone safely.
After your appointment, we’ll provide detailed post-op instructions to help you heal as quickly as possible and without complications. Your mouth must form a blood clot to shield the recently exposed nerves and bone tissue to prevent a painful condition known as dry socket.
Some helpful recovery tips include:
The cost of wisdom tooth extractions depends on several factors. When you visit us for your consultation, we can share some specific numbers and explain your payment options, such as insurance and financing. Wisdom tooth removal often costs more than regular tooth extractions, but it delivers valuable benefits that can preserve your oral health, spare you from pain, and deliver other worthwhile advantages.
The cost of your wisdom teeth procedure may depend on:
Many dental insurance plans do cover wisdom tooth extractions. Often, this procedure is classified as a major service, so about 50% of its cost might be covered, up to the amount of your plan’s annual maximum. Our team will be happy to help you figure out how your benefits apply and calculate your estimated out-of-pocket obligation. We can file claims for virtually all PPO plans.
Outside of insurance, there are other provisions that might make it easier to afford wisdom tooth removal. For example, we work with CareCredit and Lending Club, third-party financers, to provide low-interest payment plans for patients. The application process is fast, and most patients are readily approved for credit. We also have an easy online payment option that you can use to take care of any outstanding balances.
