Wisdom Teeth Removal in Downtown Los Angeles
Wisdom teeth usually arrive between 17 and 25, and often without enough room. At Smile LA Downtown Modern Dentistry, our team assesses them with a comprehensive X-ray, explains whether removal is the right call, and removes them in-house at our Financial District office, with IV sedation available when you want it.
When wisdom teeth need removing
Third molars are the last teeth to emerge, and by then the jaw has often run out of room for them. Given their size and the space available, they can cause crowding, improper chewing or misalignment of the teeth around them, and left alone they can lead to infections or cysts. Not every wisdom tooth has to come out. We assess each one and recommend removal only where it is the right call, and you hear the reasoning, and what would happen if it were left, before anything is scheduled.
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Crowding and misalignment
A third molar with nowhere to go can push on the teeth in front of it.
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Chewing problems
A tooth that only partly emerges or comes in at an angle can get in the way of a normal bite.
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Infection and cysts
Wisdom teeth that stay trapped below the gum can become a site for infection or cysts over time.
What removal involves
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Planning
A comprehensive X-ray shows the tooth, its roots and the area around it, which is what lets the procedure be planned properly.
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Simple removal
A wisdom tooth that has fully emerged can often be removed like any other tooth, with the area numbed by local anesthetic.
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Surgical removal
A tooth that has not fully emerged is reached through a small incision in the gum. More on tooth extraction.
Sedation options, including IV sedation
Every removal starts with local anesthetic. For patients who want more than that, the office offers three levels of sedation, planned around your medical history and the treatment involved rather than chosen off a menu.
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Nitrous oxide
Inhaled, wears off within minutes, and you can drive yourself home. More on nitrous oxide.
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Oral sedation
A tablet taken before the appointment; you will need someone to drive you. More on oral sedation.
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IV sedation
The deepest of the three, often used for wisdom tooth extractions and longer surgical appointments, or where dental anxiety is significant. You will need someone to take you home. More on IV sedation.
Recovery
We give you gauze to control bleeding, to be changed as needed, and an ice pack on the area helps bring the swelling down. Follow the aftercare instructions the team gives you, and call the office if anything does not settle the way we described.
Cost, insurance and membership
Benefits are verified before the visit and the estimate is put in writing, so you know what insurance is expected to cover before treatment starts. The practice is in network with Delta Dental and accepts 17 more plans out of network, and monthly payment plans are available. No insurance? Members of our $569-a-year membership plan receive 30% off extractions. See financing and insurance for details.
Wisdom teeth removal is the extraction of third molars, which usually emerge between 17 and 25 and often lack room in the jaw. They are removed when they cause or risk crowding, improper chewing, misalignment, infection or cysts. At Smile LA Downtown Modern Dentistry the procedure is planned from a comprehensive X-ray and performed in-house, with nitrous oxide, oral sedation or IV sedation available.
Wisdom Teeth Removal FAQ
Do all wisdom teeth need to come out?
- No. Wisdom teeth need removing when they cause, or are likely to cause, crowding, improper chewing or misalignment of the teeth around them, or when they put you at risk of infection or cysts. Each tooth is assessed with a comprehensive X-ray, and removal is recommended only where it is the right call.
When do wisdom teeth usually come in?
- Third molars typically emerge between the ages of 17 and 25. Because they are the last teeth to arrive, there is often too little room left in the jaw for them, which is why they are the teeth most often removed.
Is IV sedation available for wisdom teeth removal?
- Yes. Smile LA Downtown Modern Dentistry offers IV sedation, the deepest of its three sedation options, and it is often used for wisdom tooth extractions. Nitrous oxide and oral sedation are also available. The choice is planned around your medical history and the treatment, and you will need someone to take you home after IV or oral sedation.
Who removes wisdom teeth at Smile L.A.?
- Wisdom teeth are removed in-house by our team at the Financial District office, from the planning X-ray through the procedure and aftercare, so you are not referred to another practice.
What is recovery like?
- You leave with gauze to control bleeding, to be changed as needed, and an ice pack on the area helps reduce swelling. Following the aftercare instructions the team gives you is the most important part of a smooth recovery.
Does insurance cover wisdom teeth removal?
- Coverage depends on your plan. The office verifies your benefits before the visit and puts the estimate in writing. Smile L.A. is in network with Delta Dental and accepts 17 more plans out of network, and membership plan members receive 30% off extractions.
