Wisdom Tooth Extractions - Fairfax, VA

Protecting Your Smile
from Problematic Teeth

Wisdom teeth once served an important purpose. Nowadays, however, they pose more problems than they solve. Don’t worry – that’s where MJM Family & Cosmetic Dentistry comes in! When we take your annual X-rays, we will closely monitor the position of your wisdom teeth. Once they pose a risk to the look, health, and function of your smile, we will carefully remove them, saving you from countless problems in the process. To schedule wisdom tooth extractions in Fairfax, VA, give us a call!

Young woman in need of wisdom tooth extraction holding jaw in pain

Why Choose MJM Family & Cosmetic Dentistry for Wisdom Tooth Extractions?

Trained Dental Professionals
Offers Relaxing Nitrous Oxide Sedation
Technology Enhances Treatment Planning

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

X-ray with position of wisdom teeth highlighted in red

You may have heard about wisdom teeth before, but did you know that they have actually been around for thousands of years? In the past, wisdom teeth were meant to replace molars in case they fell out due to poor oral hygiene or primitive diets. Today, it’s much easier to practice oral care and maintain a consistent diet, but wisdom teeth continue to erupt.

Why Do Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?

Man pointing to smile before wisdom tooth extraction

It’s rare that a patient won’t need to have any wisdom teeth removed because the mouth is not typically large enough to accommodate them. If you begin to notice tooth pain in the back of your mouth and you are between the ages of 18 and 25, there’s a chance that your wisdom teeth are just beginning to erupt. Call our Fairfax dental office so one of our dedicated dentists can perform an exam. If we believe that your wisdom teeth are crowding your smile or putting you at risk for an oral infection, we will likely recommend removal.

What to Expect from the Wisdom Teeth Procedure

Dentist smiling while conducting procedure in office

At your consultation, we will determine several important factors that influence what your procedure will look like, including if you want sedation dentistry to calm your nerves. The day of your wisdom teeth removal, we’ll get you comfortably settled into the treatment chair before thoroughly numbing the area of your mouth that we’re working on.

If your wisdom teeth are below your gumline, then we will create an incision in your gums before using special instruments to remove them. If, on the other hand, they’ve already erupted, then we will simply use our tools to gently rock them loose. Before you leave, we will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions as well.

Recovering from Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Young woman receiving wisdom tooth extraction

Following your wisdom tooth removal, it’s very important that you take the right steps to promote healing and prevent a painful condition known as dry socket. Make sure to:

Replace the provided gauze pad every few hours or when it becomes soaked to keep the wound clean.
Avoid smoking at all costs.
Avoid using straws for the next 24 to 48 hours after treatment.
Do not vigorously rinse your mouth out with water.
Do not touch the wound.
Take prescription medications as recommended by our dental office.
Keep your head elevated while lying down to promote healing.
Apply cold ice packs to your face to reduce swelling.
Practice routine oral care as usual while making sure to avoid the treated area.
Stick to a soft diet for the next few days.
Avoid strenuous activities for the next week.

Understanding the Cost of Wisdom Tooth Extractions

Wisdom tooth extractions can vary in cost depending on a number of factors.

Wisdom tooth extractions are often necessary to alleviate pain and prevent your
“third molars” from causing serious damage to your surrounding healthy teeth. But not all extractions are created equally. Many factors contribute to their cost, including the number of teeth to be removed, the difficulty accessing them, whether they are impacted or not, and even the type of anesthesia you choose. Your wisdom tooth extraction could be partially covered by dental insurance, and financing through CareCredit is available, so speak to our friendly team with questions about your options.

Factors That Can Impact the Cost of Wisdom Tooth Extractions

Impacted wisdom teeth can affect the cost of their extraction

The cost of your wisdom tooth extractions can vary depending on several different factors which Dr. Murray and Dr. Saadoon will discuss with you at your consultation appointment. These include:

The number of wisdom teeth that need to be removed. While many people have four, it is not uncommon to have anywhere between one and six.
Whether or not they are impacted. Extracting impacted wisdom teeth is not a typical removal; this situation requires surgery. Furthermore, there are two different types of impactions, soft tissue impaction and bony impaction. Soft tissue impaction happens when the tooth fully or partially emerged from the gums, making it a bit easier to remove, while bony impaction requires your dentist to remove the tooth from the jawbone.
The type of anesthesia or sedation required, which will depend upon whether you need a surgical or simple extraction. These can incur a separate cost.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Wisdom Tooth Extractions?

Your dental insurance may cover part of your wisdom tooth extraction.

Unfortunately, not all dental insurance plans will cover dental surgery; however, most of them will cover the cost of a wisdom tooth extraction. This depends on your individual plan and whether you’ve met your deductible or maximum for the year. The best way to learn more about your specific coverage is to call your insurance provider directly. The team at MJM Family & Cosmetic dentistry would be happy to assist you with this. Furthermore, choosing an in-network provider can also help reduce your out-of-pocket costs.

Other Options for Making Wisdom Tooth Extractions Affordable

Dental insurance and financing options are excellent ways to make your wisdom tooth extraction more affordable

In addition to accepting a wide range of insurance plans, MJJ Family & Cosmetic also accepts financing plans through CareCredit. If you have any questions about this option, please speak to our team for more information, or you can apply directly on our website.

Wisdom Tooth Extractions FAQs

Illustration of impacted wisdom tooth

Our Fairfax dental team is prepared to help you find freedom from the complications that can come from wisdom teeth. Before you book your consultation, though, you might want to gather more information about your third molars and what you can expect from the treatment process. To assist you, we have put together the following list of wisdom teeth FAQs, along with succinct and easy-to-understand answers. If your specific questions are not addressed here, reach out to us directly. We are eager to speak with you!

Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth?

In modern times, wisdom teeth are considered to be vestigial. However, that was not always the case. In the ancient past, our ancestors ate a rougher diet that consisted of raw foods, such as meats, berries, nuts, and roots. They needed to have all the chewing power they could access, meaning that their wisdom teeth were important for their survival.

Today, though, humans eat a softer, more processed diet. A third set of molars is no longer necessary. The human mouth has also become smaller in general, so most people’s mouths simply cannot accommodate their wisdom teeth.

Why Are Wisdom Teeth Called That?

Since wisdom teeth often cause trouble, it might seem counterintuitive that they have such a flattering title. However, their name does not come from what they do. Rather, it comes from when they develop. They tend to develop much later than the other teeth, when a person is older and “wiser” than they were in their earlier years.

Does Everyone Have Wisdom Teeth?

Most people develop four wisdom teeth. However, some people have more or fewer. One estimate even states that somewhere between 5% and 37% of people are missing at least one of their wisdom teeth.

Of course, it is important to remember that even if you cannot see your wisdom teeth, that does not mean you do not have them. In many cases, they remain impacted beneath the gumline. You may need to visit the dentist for an X-ray to find out for sure if you have them.

What Is the Best Age to Get Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Most dentists prefer to remove the wisdom teeth when a patient is in late adolescence or early adulthood. This is before the wisdom teeth grow and become firmly embedded in the jaw, so removing them tends to be easier when a patient is relatively young.

However, if you are older, you can still undergo successful wisdom tooth removal. You might have a more complex procedure and a lengthier recovery time, but if extracting your wisdom teeth will benefit your oral health, any inconvenience will be worth it. Many people in their 30s, 40s, and older are able to undergo wisdom tooth removal.

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