Wisdom Teeth Removal in Pasadena, CA

Getting your wisdom teeth removed can feel stressful. At Pasadena Dental Office and Orthodontics, we make it as comfortable and simple as possible. Our skilled team uses advanced technology to ensure a smooth wisdom teeth extraction, less post-surgery pain, and a quick recovery. We guide you every step of the way so you know what to expect.

Why Trust Pasadena Dental Office and Orthodontics For Your Wisdom Teeth Extraction?

Precision and Safety: We use advanced tools to carefully plan your procedure. This ensures your wisdom tooth extraction is safe and accurate.
Tailored Comfort: Your comfort matters. We offer safe dental sedation options so that you can relax fully during the procedure.
Gentle Surgery: Our methods are designed to be as gentle as possible. This reduces swelling and pain, and helps you heal faster.
Simple Payment Options: We make treatment affordable. Flexible payment and financing plans help you get the care you need without worry.
Trusted Experts: Our skilled dental team is focused on your long-term oral health. You will get professional, board-certified care from a team you can trust.

Call us today to make wisdom tooth removal easy, safe, and comfortable.

What are Wisdom Teeth and Their Role?

Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are the last four teeth to come in at the back of your mouth. They usually appear in the late teens or early twenties. While they were useful for early humans who needed extra chewing power for tough, raw foods, many people today lack sufficient jaw space for them to grow properly.

Due to limited space, these third molars lead to complications:

Impaction Risk: The most common issue is impaction, in which a tooth becomes partially or fully trapped under the gum and bone.
Health Problems: When wisdom teeth are trapped or grow in the wrong direction, they can cause pain, recurring infections, cysts, or even damage the tooth next to them.

At Pasadena Dental Office and Orthodontics, our skilled dental team specializes in providing gentle and safe wisdom teeth removal.

When Wisdom Tooth Removal is Necessary

Wisdom tooth removal is needed when a wisdom tooth causes severe pain, recurring infection, or damage to surrounding teeth. Our team carefully evaluates the position of your third molars to prevent complications before they arise.

Key symptoms requiring wisdom tooth extraction include:

Red, Swollen Gums (Pericoronitis): The gums at the back of your mouth can become red, sore, or feel pressured. This mostly happens when bacteria get trapped under a partially erupted wisdom tooth.
Chronic Jaw Pain: When a wisdom tooth exerts pressure on the nerves or the neighboring teeth, it can lead to a dull throb in your jaw.
Crowding or Misalignment: The wisdom tooth pushes on neighboring teeth, which causes crowding, shifting, or new gaps.
Difficulty Chewing (Trismus): Opening the mouth may cause pain and stiffness if the tissues around the tooth are inflamed.
Bad Taste or Persistent Bad Breath: A constant bad taste or smell in your mouth results from bacteria trapped around the wisdom tooth.
Cysts or Tumors: In rare cases, a fluid-filled sac (cyst) forms around the tooth, damaging nearby bone and requiring immediate removal.

Meet Our Team

The Wisdom Teeth Removal Process

Our team performs wisdom teeth removal with careful planning and specialized skill. Patient safety and a quick, smooth healing process are our top priorities throughout the entire procedure.

Phase 1: Preparation and Planning

3D Imaging and Review: We start with detailed scans and X-rays to assess the tooth’s position, roots, and proximity to nerves or sinuses. This helps us plan the safest way to remove it.
Custom Surgical Plan: Using your scans, our oral surgeon creates a personalized plan. This decides if the wisdom tooth extraction will be simple or require a careful surgical approach.
Comfort and Sedation: You’ll get local anesthesia to numb the area or dental sedation if needed, so you stay relaxed and pain-free throughout the procedure.

Phase 2: Gentle Extraction and Site Care

Careful Wisdom Tooth Removal: If the tooth is stuck under the gums, a small opening is made. The tooth is gently lifted out, sometimes in pieces, to protect the surrounding bone and tissue.
Cleaning and Closing the Socket: After wisdom teeth removal, we clean the empty socket to remove debris and prevent infection. Dissolving stitches may be used to close the gum and help form a stable blood clot.
Rest After Procedure: You’ll spend a short time in recovery while anesthesia or sedation wears off. We make sure you are stable before going home.

Phase 3: Recovery and Follow-Up

Home Care Instructions: You will receive instructions on managing pain, eating soft foods, and rinsing your mouth gently. By following these guidelines, you facilitate healing and avoid common complications.

Technology Driving Safe and Precise Wisdom Teeth Extractions

We care for our patients’ needs by using high-tech dental instruments to ensure safe, comfortable wisdom teeth extractions. These tools help our team see the tooth’s position, plan the procedure carefully, and reduce recovery time.

Diagnostic and Planning Tools

3D Cone Beam CT (CBCT): This scan gives a detailed 3D view of your teeth, jawbone, and nerves near the wisdom teeth roots. It helps us create a precise surgical plan.
Digital X-Rays: Quick 2D images of the teeth and jaw complement the CBCT scan. Together, they guide a safe and accurate extraction.
Computer-Guided Planning: This computer-assisted planning uses a sophisticated software program to map the tooth’s position. This is a minimally invasive approach.

Enhanced Surgical and Comfort Tools

Piezoelectric Surgery (Piezosurgery): This is the newest approach that uses ultrasonic vibrations to cut bones accurately. This avoids damage to nearby teeth, nerves, or soft tissue and reduces pain and swelling.
Soft Tissue Lasers: Dental lasers are used to cut and shape gum tissue with extreme precision, gently. This reduces bleeding, minimizes swelling, and accelerates tissue healing.
Modern Anesthesia and Sedation: We use the latest equipment to administer and monitor sedation and anesthesia, ensuring you remain relaxed, comfortable, and pain-free throughout the procedure.

Book an appointment today for wisdom teeth removal.

Key Statistics About Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom teeth removal is among the most common dental surgeries worldwide. The American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons reports that 90% of people have at least one impacted wisdom tooth. Removing these third molars early can prevent pain, infections, and damage to nearby teeth, making the procedure a common and important preventive measure.

In the United States, wisdom tooth removal is very common. About 85% of adults have their third molars taken out, a higher rate than in many other countries. This shows that wisdom tooth extraction is a standard, widely practiced procedure. At Pasadena Dental Office and Orthodontics, we follow proven clinical protocols to help you feel confident in your procedure.

Caring for Your Mouth After Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Taking care of your mouth after wisdom tooth extraction is the most important step for quick, smooth healing. Following instructions protects the blood clot, which shields the bone and nerves, helping you recover faster and get back to your normal routine.

Immediate Care and Comfort (First 48 Hours)

Rest and Elevate: Rest fully for the first two days. Keep your head raised, even while sleeping, to reduce swelling.
Cold Therapy: Apply a cold pack or ice wrapped in a towel to your cheek for 20 minutes at a time during the first 48 hours to control swelling.
Pain Management: Take prescribed pain medicine exactly as directed to stay comfortable and prevent severe pain.

Protecting the Surgical Site

No Straws or Smoking: Avoid straws and smoking for at least a week. The suction dislodges the blood clot, which leads to a painful dry socket.
Eat Soft Foods: Stick to soft, cool foods like yogurt, mashed potatoes, or soup for the first few days.
Gentle Oral Care: Brush your other teeth carefully, but avoid the extraction site at first. Don’t spit forcefully. Let the water flow out gently.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water to help your body heal faster.

Cleaning and Long-Term Healing

Saltwater Rinses: After the first 24 hours, gently rinse your mouth with warm saltwater 3–4 times a day, especially after meals. This keeps the area clean.
Follow-Up Visits: Attend all scheduled check-ups to ensure the site is healing well and to remove any stitches, if needed.

Understanding the Cost of Wisdom Teeth Removal

The cost of wisdom teeth removal ranges from $75 to $250 per tooth. Impacted wisdom teeth cost between $200 and $600 per tooth. All 4 wisdom teeth removal usually cost $600 to $1100. A single wisdom tooth removal cost with general anesthesia sedation ranges from $600 – $1100.

Dental insurance helps pay for extraction of wisdom teeth.

The cost is determined by the complexity of the procedure. If the wisdom tooth is misaligned or if the patient is past the recommended age for wisdom tooth extraction, the cost will not only go higher but the procedure will be longer.

Some oral surgeons can lower the price when removing all four wisdom teeth at once. The possibility of saving money on the procedure can go up to $1000.

Additional costs may include:

Diagnostic costs:
- Exam – A dental exam will always be performed first.
- Digital X-Ray – X-rays will be needed to know where the decay is located. The cost generally ranges from $50 up to $150.
Treatment options – Additional treatment costs include local anesthesia, or any fees that may occur from an emergency or cost for after hours appointment.
Aftercare – This would include a prescription (if needed) and perhaps gauze or ice packs.

Insurance Coverage and Financing Options

Most dental insurance plans cover 50–80% of the wisdom teeth removal cost because they consider it a “major procedure”. Coverage depends on your plan’s limits and deductible.

We work with most major insurance providers and also offer flexible financing options through CareCredit, Cherry, and LendingClub to help make the procedure easier on your budget.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wisdom Teeth Extraction

How long should I expect the entire healing process to take?

The entire healing process usually takes about 2 weeks for the initial phase. However, the jawbone needs several months to recover fully. Most pain and swelling improve within three to seven days. Still, you should avoid strenuous activities for about a week.

What should I do if my swelling gets worse after the third day?

If your swelling worsens after the third day, contact our dentist office immediately, as this may indicate a complication. Other symptoms that warrant an urgent call include severe or worsening pain not relieved by medication, pus or unusual discharge from the site, and a fever.

When can I resume exercising or other strenuous activities?

You can resume exercising after 3–4 days after your wisdom tooth removal. If you can, take the whole week off from intense activity. Most people can return to regular workouts in 1–2 weeks, as long as our oral surgeon approves and you feel no pain.

Do I need someone to drive me home after the procedure?

Yes, you need someone to drive you home after the procedure if you choose any level of sedation beyond local anesthesia. It’s important to have a responsible adult with you to ensure your safety until the sedation fully wears off.

What types of pain medication will be prescribed?

We typically prescribe a combination of a non-opioid medication (like strong ibuprofen) and a short course of prescription pain medication (often a narcotic or opioid) for the first few days of recovery. We also focus on using non-opioid protocols whenever possible.

Will removing the wisdom teeth affect my jaw strength?

No. The removal of the wisdom teeth does not affect your jaw strength. In fact, it can relieve pre-existing jaw pressure and tension. However, you may experience temporary jaw stiffness, discomfort, or limited movement during recovery.

At what age is it ideal to get wisdom teeth removed?

The ideal age for wisdom tooth removal is usually between 16 and 20. At this stage, the roots are not fully developed, the bone is softer, and recovery is faster. Removing them early also helps prevent future complications rather than treating them later.

What happens if you delay removing impacted wisdom teeth?

Delaying the removal of impacted wisdom teeth can lead to major complications, even if you feel no pain now. Risks include decay or damage to nearby molars, recurring gum infections, cysts or tumors around the tooth, and crowding or shifting of surrounding teeth.