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Frequently Asked Questions About Wisdom Teeth
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Wisdom Teeth
The best time for removal of wisdom teeth is about 16 years old although there is a large age range. The factors used in determining timing for extractions are basically 2 things;
- Age of Patient: the younger the better
- Root Formation: a little root formation (about 1/3) is good but a lot is not. If you have over 2/3rds root formation on your wisdom teeth there’s no sense in waiting. It’s time for them to come out.
What can I expect to pay for the removal of wisdom teeth?
The average cost is approximately $1400.00. This can vary due to the individual surgical needs of each patient and the difficulty of removal of each tooth. The cost could be as low as $500 for four erupted wisdom teeth with only local anesthesia.
Should I consider IV sedation or local anesthesia?
How long is recovery?
For the first two days take it easy, no strenuous activity is allowed. Most people don’t feel like going back to their regular daily activities until approximately 4 days or 96 hours after surgery. There is still swelling and tenderness until around day 7 to day 10. Rinses are continued until day 30. However from day 10 to day 30 there is usually no pain.
Why did my dentist send me to an oral surgeon just to pull a tooth? Can’t he do that?
Yes he can, but your dentist feels it is in your best interest to be treated by someone trained in advanced surgical and anesthetic procedures in a fully equipped surgical and anesthesia setting.
I don’t like dentists, is there anything you can do to make this easier on me?
We do our best to help you through this sometimes scary process by providing friendly staff in a comfortable setting. Dr Reynolds can also use multiple anesthesia techniques including preoperative anti-anxiety medicines (similar to valium).