The Cost Of Wisdom Tooth Removal

See the table below for "What is the cost of wisdom tooth removal" in New Zealand.

The Cost of Wisdom Teeth Removal
At Milford Dental, the 2017 cost of wisdom tooth removal begins at $253 (per tooth) for easy extraction and advances to more complex teeth from $523 upwards – based on difficulty. If there is added complexity or bone grafting is required, the cost to the fee can increase from XXXX per location grafted and quantity of bone used.

Wisdom teeth are the last set of molar teeth to grow into your mouth. This generally happens when you are between 19 & 21 years old but they can come through sooner or later. If your teeth and jaws are the right size for each other, wisdom teeth tend to erupt & function like ordinary teeth; they are a useful asset in this case. More often than not, however, because the jaw is too small or the actual teeth are too big for the available space, wisdom teeth are misaligned and become stuck or impacted. 

Cost Of Wisdom Tooth Removal At Milford Dentists

Assesment consultation	$59	Per 15 minute block of time
Digital X-ray taken in the mouth	$15	Per x-ray
Digital Panorex X-ray	100
Removal of Straightforward Wisdom Tooth	$253
Removal of Medium Difficulty Wisdom Tooth	$523
Removal of more Complicated Wisdom tooth	$750 +

When the wisdom tooth is impacted it can cause several dental problems - some that cause pain and discomfort & other problems that have no symptoms until it is too late. 

Impacted wisdom teeth can -

• Crowd adjacent teeth. There is evidence suggesting that a wisdom tooth that is tilted towards the front of the mouth actually pushes the teeth in front of it leading to crowding of teeth.
• Result in the molar tooth root in front decaying because the food is trapped & rots between both teeth, well below the gum line. This leads to the loss of the molar tooth in front - this then leads to other problems like loss of chewing ability and over-eruption of the tooth above and so on and so on. This is often a painless process until the decay reaches the nerve & then a painful abscess forms necessitating the wisdom tooth & molar in front to be extracted.
• Affect the flap of gum resting over the tooth leading to an infection called pericoronitis. The gum flap partially covering a wisdom tooth that is not fully erupted & that is stuck hard up against the adjacent tooth or the jaw bone, can trap food around it. This food cannot be cleaned out. Bacteria feast on this rotting food, multiplying and then causing gum infection & disease - pericoronitis. Because the wisdom tooth cannot move this area enters a cycle of infection. 
  
  My patients will often tell me “my wisdom tooth has tried to come through, but it then settled back down.” What is actually happening here is the gum flap is becoming infected & swollen creating a feeling of pressure which you might think is the tooth erupting but actually, it’s gum disease. The infection settles down & the pressure goes which makes you think the tooth has decided to settle back down into its socket – not so.
• This clip below gives you an idea of the problems arising from impacted wisdom teeth 
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If you are worried about wisdom teeth or are having symptoms or just want to check that they are ok please book in with Andrea, Tristan or Geoff. We can quickly and painlessly assess your wisdom teeth & take an x-ray called a Panorex.

If you have a look at the Panorex below, both lower wisdom teeth are tilting forwards on a 45-degree angle. The wisdom tooth on the left has caused the tooth in front to decay. There is a massive area of dental decay – This patient needed all his wisdom teeth out plus the decaying second molar on the left which was unfixable. This gives you an idea of how useful a Ppanorex x-ray is.

If you need to have your wisdom teeth taken out you have several options.

1. 1) See an oral surgeon for your extractions – If you have health insurance wisdom tooth extractions are often covered – Check with your insurance provider
2. 2) Have your wisdom teeth removed by a dentist. At Milford Dentist, Tristan has a special interest in teeth extractions. Tristan worked in Manchester’s biggest hospital for several years. Here, as well as becoming well versed in & very comfortable with impacted wisdom tooth removal he also plated up fractured jaws & even treated gunshot wounds to the head and neck!

We can assess your wisdom teeth & as of writing this blog our cost estimate of wisdom tooth removal are as follows 

• Assessment consultation - $59 per 15 minute block of time
• Digital x-ray taken in the mouth - $15 per x-ray
• Digital panorex x-ray - $100
• Removal of straight forward wisdom tooth $253
• Removal of medium difficulty wisdom tooth $523
• Removal of more complicated wisdom tooth $750+

Milford Dentists is proud to help the good people of the North Shore with all their dental requirements; especially in our mission to help you with wisdom tooth problems - From Devonport and Belmont up through Takapuna, Castor Bay, Mairangi Bay & Browns Bay as well as Albany, Northcote, Hillcrest, the Whangaporoa Peninsula and beyond give us a call - 09 4896575.

What are the Symptoms of Wisdom Teeth Coming in?

If you haven’t already gotten your wisdom teeth extracted, there are some signs you should watch out for. When wisdom teeth start to erupt, it’s important to deal with them sooner rather than later.

What are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth are four teeth tucked behind the second permanent molars. Often called an evolutionary relic, wisdom teeth frequently don’t do us any favours in the modern world. One theory is that early in our evolution we were eating unrefined foods (uncooked meats and plants) which were more abrasive than the diet we have today. These foods would wear our teeth down faster, creating narrower teeth which allowed space for wisdom teeth to erupt correctly. Think of a tooth as a cone shape - as the cone shortens, it's circumference becomes smaller.

Another theory is that our jaws were bigger because our chewing muscles were bigger because the foods eaten required more strength to chew. Think of a bodybuilder with big muscles - the underlying bone is bigger to help anchor the muscles in place, otherwise the big muscles would snap the bodybuilder's bone. So bigger muscles and bigger jaw bones make for more room for the wisdom teeth in early humans.  Nowadays humans enjoy a much softer diet, and consequently, there is less space for wisdom teeth and they often don't have enough room to erupt into the mouth properly. 

What are the Symptoms?

These are the signs to look out for around or behind the back tooth:

• Red and inflamed gum 
• Tender to the touch
• Pus 
• Swelling of the gum and soft tissues 
• Swollen lymph glands
• Visible signs of tooth erupting into the mouth

If your mouth is complaining, it’s time to go and see your dentist. Wisdom teeth erupt through the gums -  teething. Because food trapping and it's stagnation around the erupting or impacted (stuck) wisdom tooth occurs, it is common to get an infection which makes itself known through bad breath or a foul taste in the mouth. Also throbbing, swelling and a dull pressure in the mouth are common symptoms of wisdom tooth gum infection. This infection around a wisdom tooth is called peritonitis. On a brighter note, wisdom teeth sometimes erupt with no symptoms.

What Problems Can Wisdom Teeth Cause?

Sometimes people don’t have enough room in their mouth, causing wisdom teeth to become stuck/impacted. This means that instead of coming straight up, they lie at an angle or on their side and sometimes press up against the tooth in front. Food trapping in this area creates a perfect storm for decay and cavity formation in the tooth in front which often dooms this tooth.

Some dentists postulate that the forward erupting force of an impacted wisdom tooth can cause the teeth further forward to overcrowd, which can lead to improper bite alignment. 

How to Extract Wisdom Teeth

Many wisdom teeth can be removed as a routine procedure. When a wisdom tooth is stuck/impacted a more complicated extraction may be required. Do visit your dentist to have your wisdom teeth assessed. This will involve

1. Having a look in your mouth at the problem area
2. Taking an x-ray - either a small intr-oral x-ray or often an OPG/panorex x-ray
3. Making a plan either to have the dentist remove the wisdom tooth or teeth or have a referral to an oral surgeon should the extraction look tricky.

It is recommended that wisdom teeth be extracted at a younger age should this be required, however, they can be removed at any age. 

For wisdom teeth removal, tooth whitening, dentures and more, visit Milford Dentists.

How to Relieve Pain from Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth can definitely make themselves known! They erupt at the back of the mouth through the gum, and that can sometimes be painful. It's best to consult your dentist if you are having  dental pain or discomfort but if this is not possible some of these solutions might help nurse things along. If your gums and teeth are sore, try one of these pain-relieving solutions.

Natural Home Remedies

Ease the pain with one of these easy recipes. Chances are you’ll be able to find all of these ingredients in your cupboard, so you’ll save on costs while getting the full healing properties of Mother Nature.

Salt & Warm Water Rinse

For gum infections, wisdom tooth problems and gum boils the following can help. Mix a cup of hot water (as hot as you can stand) with a teaspoon of salt and stir to dissolve. Rinse your mouth for 30-60 seconds, then spit it out. Do this as often as you can throughout the day. If you are unable to source hot water during the day mixing up this solution and filling up a thermos is a convenient and quick way to access hot salty mouth washes.

Cloves

Place a whole clove in your mouth, directly on the area that hurts the most. Keep it there until your mouth begins to feel numb. Cloves have anesthetic and antibacterial properties, so they’re the perfect treatment for pain caused by wisdom teeth. In fact cloves contain something called eugenol.  it's the eugenol (an ingredient within clove oil) that provides relief. Eugenol is a natural anesthetic and antibacterial, and it works well at reducing inflammation in the mouth. You can also use clove oil by dabbing some on a cotton ball, swab or tip and gently dabbing on the sore or inflamed area. If the taste of clove is too strong, mix it with a little bit of olive oil to dilute it. Repeat this treatment as often as you need.

Apply Ice

To reduce swelling, use an ice pack to fight inflammation and pain. Simple yet effective. 

Peppermint Oil

Another option is to try Peppermint oil for toothache. Dip a cotton swab in peppermint oil and apply it on the toothache area. It may help decrease the soreness as well as pain in the tooth. Peppermint has a mild anesthetic property and some believe it helps eliminate bad bacteria.

Counter top Solutions

If you’re out of the house for most of the day, then it might not make sense to rely on home remedies which require time (and sometimes unpleasant smells!). Counter top solutions are ideal for those on the go, or when the pain is so severe you need a quick fix.

Benzocaine

Benzocaine can help numb the area around your wisdom tooth. Products that contain benzocaine, have a mild topical anesthetic affect. Every product is different so read the instructions carefully and only use as recommended.

Over the counter pain killers

Taking pain killers (the same pain killer that you have taken for a headache) can help. Over the counter pain killers such as Ibuprofen or panadol can help but do talk to your doctor or dentist first if you are not familiar with over the counter pain killers in relation to your medical history or any conditions you have that may preclude taking them. 

Wisdom Teeth Services at Milford Dentists

If your wisdom teeth are bothering you too much, or if you are concerned about the way they are growing, visit Milford Dentists, at our dental clinic we can examine your wisdom teeth and let you know if they need to be removed. For wisdom teeth removal, tooth whitening, dental implants and more, contact us. 

What to Expect When Removing Wisdom Teeth

You may hear stories about other people getting wisdom teeth removed, but most people don’t know the surgical process until they themselves have problems with their wisdom teeth. If you’re in this boat, or you want to know what to expect for future reference, keep on reading. We’ll explain what to expect when getting wisdom teeth removed and how to take care of them afterwards.

Before Getting Wisdom Teeth Removed

Most likely you’ll know when you need to get your wisdom teeth removed. Symptoms include red or swollen gums, tender or bleeding gyms, jaw pain, swelling around the jaw, bad breath, and an unpleasant taste in your mouth and sometimes food impaction/getting stuck. If you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms, you’ve probably already booked a visit to the dentist.

Wisdom teeth need to be removed if they’re impacted, if they come in at the wrong angle, if your mouth isn’t big enough for the additional teeth, or if the wisdom tooth is decayed or its position is likely to cause decay in the 2nd molar in front of it. Your dentist will tell you the reason for removing them, and you will be allowed to ask questions and discuss options. One decision to make before removing wisdom teeth is the type of anesthesia you want during the surgery: local, IV sedation, or general.

Your dentist will also ask if you are taking any medication regularly and the history of your health. You will receive some forms to sign and depending on the complexity of your procedure and anesthetic option you may be asked to bring a ‘caregiver’ with you on the day of the surgery, so they can assist you afterwards. Most people are still woozy from the drugs and can’t drive themselves home, so this person will need to be available to help care for you. You will also most likely need to take a few days off work too, this again depends on your procedure. 

Consult your dentist to have explained the recognised complications of wisdom tooth removal.

The Removal Process

The surgery should take approximately 45 minutes or less. Your dentist may need make a nick in your gum gum or even remove bone to get the wisdom tooth out, especially if it is impacted. Often stitches are placed to help close the wound and these are often dissolving sutures. Gauze packs are also placed in the wound to act as a pressure pad to help clotting - These are often removed by you 45 minutes to an hour after your procedure.

After Getting Wisdom Teeth Removed

Everyone responds differently to surgery, but you should expect some pain and swelling and discomfort for several days. Your mouth may take a few weeks to heal completely, and you can help by using an ice pack to reduce swelling, eating soft foods like soup or pasta, drinking plenty of water, and gently brushing your teeth only after the second day (avoiding any blood clots). You should avoid drinking through a straw, as sucking may loosen blood clots that help your mouth heal, and avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. Avoid any vigorous activity for 24 hours post removal as elevating your blood pressure can cause the blood clot in the wound to break down causing bleeding. If this happens apply pressure on the wound with the gauze provided by your dentist or by using a rolled up square of clean cotton (like a handkerchief) 

Getting wisdom teeth removed may sound a bit intimidating, but it’s a very safe and streamlined process. If you need to get your wisdom teeth removed, it’s better to do it sooner rather than later. If you are experiencing symptoms of unhappy wisdom teeth, give us a call to discuss your options. Our dental clinic offers wisdom teeth removal, tooth whitening, and other dental services.