Wisdom Tooth Removal in San Diego, CA
All About Third Molars
Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are the last teeth to develop and appear in the mouth around the age of 17. People can have between one and four, more than four, or none at all. In general, wisdom teeth removal procedures are quick and easy. If you undergo IV sedation for this procedure, you will need a responsible adult to drive you home after the surgery. Wisdom teeth are removed by an oral surgeon, who is extensively trained in the safe administration of anesthesia and complex surgical procedures.
Wisdom teeth rarely develop without causing problems. Third molars can lead to serious and costly problems in the future that jeopardize oral health. When a wisdom tooth grows sideways and cannot break through the gums, it is considered to be impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth must be removed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon because it will not properly erupt into the dental arch on its own.
Leaving wisdom teeth untreated can cause:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Infections
- Tumors
- Cysts
- Impaction
- Misalignment of other teeth
- Gum disease, which can lead to tooth decay
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are trained to perform complex surgical procedures, such as the removal of wisdom teeth. When wisdom teeth are impacted, they require precise surgical interventions that oral surgeons can perform.
In addition to the surgery itself, oral surgeons are the only dental professionals qualified to administer all forms of anesthesia. This includes local anesthesia, laughing gas, IV sedation, and general anesthesia. IV sedation is the most common form of anesthesia for wisdom teeth surgery. We offer all of these options for anesthesia and sedation at The Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Specialists of San Diego.
Why Should I Have Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Wisdom teeth are not needed for your mouth to function properly. Left untreated, wisdom teeth can pose a threat to your oral and overall health. It is rare for a wisdom tooth to develop and erupt without causing complications. This is why many dental professionals recommend having them extracted.
What Can Happen If I Don’t Remove My Wisdom Teeth?
Misalignment and Damage to Other Teeth
Because the mouth does not have room for these molars, they can push other teeth out of alignment as they try to make room for themselves in the dental arch. This can affect your entire arch of teeth to shift out of place. The pressure of wisdom teeth pushing against adjacent teeth can also cause damage.
Tooth Pain
One of the most common symptoms of wisdom teeth is pain or pressure in the back of the mouth. This is caused by the teeth trying to squeeze in, and it can make normal tasks like eating or speaking uncomfortable.
Wisdom Tooth Infection
An impacted wisdom tooth is difficult to clean. Food and debris can become trapped around the tooth, causing infection. This infection may spread to nearby teeth and gums or cause chronic bad breath.
Wisdom Tooth Cysts or Tumors
When a wisdom tooth is infected, cysts or tumors can form around the tooth. These can be painful and get in the way of chewing.
When Should I Have Wisdom Teeth Removed?
You should have your wisdom teeth removed as soon as possible. We recommend having them extracted during the early teen years, but wisdom teeth can be removed at any time. Younger patients often have faster recoveries, and the surgery itself is easier because the teeth have not yet fully developed.
Wisdom Teeth Removal as an Adult
Although it’s recommended to have third molars extracted early, you can have them removed at any age. If the wisdom teeth have been left untreated for many years, they have likely fully developed and are more embedded in the jaw bone. By not undergoing this surgery sooner, the wisdom teeth may have damaged nearby teeth or pushed them out of alignment.
Adult patients may notice sudden pain or infection caused by their untreated wisdom teeth. If you have wisdom teeth, regardless of your age, you should have them removed by an oral surgeon to prevent complications and protect your overall health.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth Removal in San Diego, CA
If a wisdom tooth becomes stuck beneath the gums, it is considered to be impacted. An impacted wisdom tooth will not naturally erupt into the dental arch. It grows at an angle instead of straight up or down and can push against the adjacent molar.
Whereas an erupted wisdom tooth is simply removed using forceps, an impacted wisdom tooth requires surgical removal. Your surgeon will make an incision in the gum tissue to access the tooth, then remove it. The tooth may need to be broken into smaller pieces for easier removal.
In some cases, a general dentist can extract a wisdom tooth that has erupted, similar to a simple tooth extraction. For impacted wisdom teeth or multiple teeth that need to be removed, the dentist will refer the patient to an oral surgeon.
Third Molar Extractions: What to Expect
During your consultation, one of our board-certified surgeons Dr. Koshgerian or Dr. Shelton will discuss your oral health goals and design a solution based on your needs. Wisdom teeth removal procedures are generally quick and easy, and many patients undergo general anesthesia, which requires a responsible adult to drive them home after the surgery.
We will provide you with post-operative instructions, which outlines everything you need to know about your recovery, the recommended diet to follow, and how to maintain oral hygiene. You can expect to rest for the first 24 hours. Post-surgical pain can be managed with pain medication and ice packs. During the healing process, be sure to brush your teeth gently around the extraction sites and rinse your mouth to prevent food buildup.
Cost of Wisdom Tooth Removal in San Diego, CA
The cost of having your wisdom teeth extracted varies for each patient. When determining the cost for your procedure, we take into consideration the number of wisdom teeth you need removed, if any are impacted, your choice of anesthesia, and your dental insurance. We will discuss each of these items in detail and provide you with a cost estimate for your wisdom tooth removal prior to performing surgery.
Bank Stem Cells From Wisdom Teeth
In general, wisdom teeth are healthy teeth that are removed only because there is not enough room for them. They contain an abundance of natural stem cells. These cells can differentiate into different types of cells your body needs, such as blood, tissue, organ, and bone. After having wisdom teeth removed, you can bank your wisdom teeth stem cells in a secure lab for potential future use.
At The Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Specialists of San Diego, both Dr. Koshgerian and Dr. Shelton are Stemodontics® certified and offer stem cell banking services to patients undergoing wisdom tooth extraction. By banking your stem cells now, you are investing in your future health. Learn more about stem cells or visit the official Stemodontics website to enroll in stem cell banking today!
Types of Anesthesia
The right anesthesia will depend on the complexity of your procedure and your level of anxiety.
Patient Testimonials
Hear from our patients about their experiences with Wisdom Teeth Removal and other procedures.
"My name is Allan, and I am from Lemon Grove, and I came to The Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego to get my wisdom teeth taken out. My overall experience has been awesome. Starting with the staff and the doctors, they care about you, and they really want to make your experience well. The practice was clean, very inviting, and friendly. The doctors here were very thorough and explained everything to me and put my mind at ease. After the procedure, I’m feeling great. The Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego sets the bar on their friendliness and professionalism in the industry."
"Hi, I'm Andrea and I'm from El Cajon. We came to The Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Specialists of San Diego to have my daughter's wisdom teeth extracted. When we walked into the office, the first thing I noticed was how friendly everybody was. They made us feel safe. These doctors are our experts—very gentle, humorous. The procedure was great. The recovery was so much easier than I thought it would be, but the more important thing is the contact that this staff made with us to make sure she was okay. I would definitely recommend The Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Specialists of San Diego to anyone."
"Hello, my name is Angel and I’m from San Diego. I came to The Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego to get my wisdom teeth removed. My overall experience here was awesome. When I came in for this procedure, I was a little bit nervous, but the doctor makes you feel very comfortable instantly. The doctors and staff do a very good job at letting you know exactly what’s going to happen. The procedure went very well. I feel awesome and very comfortable now that the procedure is done. I’m so glad I got my wisdom teeth removed here. I would definitely recommend The Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego to anybody."
"Hi, I'm Asante and I'm from San Diego. I came to The Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Specialists of San Diego to get my wisdom teeth removed. When I first came here, I had felt very welcomed. I love the decor of the office and the staff was very friendly and made me feel super comfortable. The doctors here are very welcoming, awesome, and amazing at their job. It feels great. I mean, your teeth are such an important aspect of your face, and if you have a beautiful smile, you're beautiful automatically. My experience here was wonderful. I would totally come back for any surgery. I would recommend this practice because I felt very safe, and they made wisdom teeth removal a fun process."
"Hello, my name is Ashlynn, I’m from Clairemont, San Diego, and I came to The Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego to get my wisdom teeth removed. This practice has a lot of great people, super nice. Everyone made me feel comfortable, and they’re very reassuring. The doctors here are very caring. I do remember getting videos before the procedure about what to expect. Receiving those messages from the practice really improved my experience. I feel one hundred percent better after this procedure and to any of my friends that need their wisdom teeth removed, I would absolutely recommend The Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego."
"Hi, I’m Aurora from Santee, California, and I had my wisdom teeth taken out by Dr. Koshgerian. The office here, they’re very nice. I really like it here. The staff here, they’re very friendly. Made me feel extremely comfortable right off the bat, and very helpful too. Dr. Koshgerian—he’s very nice. It’s easy to talk with him. I could be, like, comfortable around him. The surgery went well. It was really fast. I had a great experience, and I highly recommend Dr. Koshgerian."
"Hi my name is Brian, I live in San Diego, and I came to the Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego to have my son’s wisdom teeth removed. The overall experience at the Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego, I would say, was excellent. It’s a very nice, comforting, relaxing atmosphere. The doctor and the staff tell you what to expect in regard to the surgery that’s going to happen to remove all four wisdom teeth. We received a text and I believe we received a video also of things we should do before arriving there, things we should be aware of. It was very informative. I thought it was very, very well done. We’re glad we came to the Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego. They took care of us. "
"Hi, my name is Carrie, from San Diego, and I had my wisdom teeth pulled from Dr. Koshgerian. I wasn't feeling any pain in my teeth, but I knew that I needed to have them removed since I didn't have them removed when I was younger. I was extremely nervous to make the appointment and even reach out to the doctor to have the wisdom teeth pulled. The surgery went exactly as planned. It was very quick and painless, and I felt amazing afterwards, actually, which was very surprising to me. Dr. Koshgerian is a very friendly person. He made sure that I felt very comfortable and answered all the questions that I had. I had an excellent experience here. For my friends and family in San Diego and La Jolla, I highly recommend Dr. Koshgerian."
"My name is Charles, I live in Mesa, and I came to The Oral Surgery Specialists of San Diego to get my wisdom teeth removed. When I first walked in, the atmosphere was very relaxed. At this practice, they made me feel very important and special. The staff here were very, very kind. The doctors here are really nice and the procedure went really smooth. My overall experience—it was pretty fantastic. To my friends and family in La Jolla who need their wisdom teeth removed, I would absolutely recommend the doctors here."
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can We Help?
If you have questions, would like to learn more about a procedure, or wish to schedule an appointment at The Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Specialists of San Diego, give us a call.