Wisdom Teeth Removal in Hilliard & Columbus, OH
Call 614-363-0030 or request a wisdom teeth consultation online. New patients who book online get free initial oral sedation after their comprehensive exam, a $450 value. If another office already recommended surgery, your second opinion here is free.
When Should Wisdom Teeth Be Removed?
Wisdom teeth should be removed when they are impacted, coming in at an angle, crowding nearby teeth, or causing pain, swelling, or repeated gum infections. Many people have them evaluated in their late teens, when the roots are shorter and recovery tends to be faster.
Wisdom teeth are your third set of molars, and they usually try to come in between ages 17 and 25. Most jaws don’t have room for them. When they get stuck or come in crooked, they push on the second molars. They also leave a hard-to-clean pocket at the back of the mouth where decay and gum disease start.
Common signs it’s time to have your wisdom teeth pulled:
- Pain or pressure at the back of your jaw
- Red, swollen, or tender gums behind your last molar
- A bad taste or bad breath that keeps coming back
- Jaw stiffness or trouble opening your mouth all the way
- New crowding in your front teeth
Some wisdom teeth never cause trouble. If yours are fully grown in, healthy, and easy to brush and floss, we may recommend keeping them and checking them with X-rays at your regular dental cleanings and exams.
What Are Impacted Wisdom Teeth?
Impacted wisdom teeth are third molars that stay trapped under the gums or jawbone because there isn’t enough room for them to come in. They can grow sideways, press against the second molar, and trap bacteria that lead to infection, cysts, or decay.
A tooth can be partially impacted, with part of it showing through the gum, or fully impacted, sealed under gum tissue or bone. Partially impacted teeth often cause pericoronitis, an infection of the gum flap over the tooth that brings swelling, pain, and a bad taste.
Our in-office CT scanner takes 3D images that show exactly where each tooth sits, how its roots are shaped, and how close it is to the nerve in your lower jaw and the sinuses above your upper teeth. We use that map to plan the removal. Having impacted wisdom teeth pulled before they damage nearby teeth is usually simpler than treating an infection later.
Hurting in the Back of Your Jaw? Call Our Hilliard Office.
Infection around a wisdom tooth tends to spread the longer it goes untreated. Call us or book online and our team will get you in for an exam and imaging.
Call us soon if you have:
- Throbbing pain behind your last molar
- Swollen or bleeding gums at the back of the mouth
- Trouble opening your jaw or chewing
- A bad taste, pus, or bad breath that won’t go away
- Swelling in your cheek or along your jaw
What Happens During Wisdom Teeth Extraction at Just Smiles?
Wisdom teeth extraction at Just Smiles starts with an exam and imaging, then a choice of sedation. On surgery day, your dentist numbs the area, removes each tooth, and places stitches where needed. Removing all four usually takes 45 minutes to an hour.
- Consultation and imaging. Your dentist reviews your X-rays or 3D scan with you, explains which teeth need to come out, and answers your questions.
- Choosing sedation. Every procedure uses local anesthesia. You can add oral sedation, a pill taken before your visit, or IV sedation, which delivers medication through a small IV so you stay deeply relaxed and remember little of the procedure. See how sedation dentistry works at Just Smiles.
- Removing the teeth. Fully erupted teeth can come out much like a simple tooth extraction. Impacted teeth may be removed in small sections to protect the surrounding bone.
- Heading home. We go over your aftercare instructions and any prescriptions. If you had oral or IV sedation, plan on someone driving you home.
Why Choose Just Smiles for Wisdom Teeth Removal in Hilliard?
Just Smiles offers wisdom teeth removal by Dr. Phil Chahine and his skilled team of dentists, in-office 3D imaging, and oral or IV sedation in Hilliard.
Led by Dr. Phil Chahine
Dr. Chahine, FAGD, completed a residency at OSU Medical Center.
3D Imaging Before Surgery
Our in-office CT scanner maps roots, nerves, and sinuses before surgery.
IV or Oral Sedation
IV sedation by Dr. Will Kalout, plus lighter oral sedation options.
What Is Recovery Like After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Most people feel back to normal within three to four days after wisdom teeth removal, with swelling peaking around day two or three. The extraction sites keep healing for a few weeks. Rest, ice, soft foods, and your prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication handle most of the discomfort.
- First 24 hours: Bite gently on gauze to control bleeding, rest with your head raised, and hold an ice pack on your cheek in 20-minute intervals.
- Food: Stick to soft, cool foods like yogurt, smoothies (eaten with a spoon), mashed potatoes, and scrambled eggs. Skip crunchy, spicy, and very hot foods until the sites heal.
- Protect the clot: Avoid straws, smoking, and forceful spitting for the first several days. Each of these can loosen the blood clot and cause dry socket, a painful condition where the bone underneath is exposed.
- Keep it clean: Starting the day after surgery, rinse gently with warm salt water after meals and brush the rest of your mouth as usual.
- Call us if: pain gets worse after day three, you run a fever, or bleeding or swelling won’t settle down.
Our tooth extraction aftercare instructions (PDF) cover each step in more detail.
Does Insurance Cover Wisdom Teeth Removal in Hilliard, OH?
Most dental insurance plans cover part of wisdom teeth removal, especially when the teeth are impacted or causing problems. Just Smiles is in-network with more than 40 insurance plans and will review your estimated cost with you before treatment starts.
In-network plans include Delta Dental, Aetna, Cigna, MetLife, Guardian, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and Anthem BCBS. Coverage for surgery and sedation varies by plan, so we verify your benefits after your consultation.
Patients without insurance can join the Just Smiles Dental Plan. It costs $325 a year for adults and covers two cleanings and two exams at 100 percent, which gives us regular X-rays to watch your wisdom teeth.
Serving Hilliard, Columbus, and Surrounding Communities
Just Smiles in Hilliard provides wisdom teeth removal for patients across the Columbus area, including Dublin, Upper Arlington, Grove City, and Worthington. Our office at 1921 Hilliard Rome Rd is a short drive from downtown Columbus.
Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:30am to 5:00pm, Tuesday from 10:00am to 6:00pm, and Friday from 8:00am to 1:00pm. If you’re closer to the northeast side of Columbus, our Westerville office also removes wisdom teeth.
You see the same team from your consultation through your follow-up visit.
Related Oral Surgery Services
Other oral surgery services at our Hilliard office:
- Oral Surgery Overview: See every surgical procedure available at our Hilliard office.
- Tooth Extractions: Remove a damaged or infected tooth that can’t be saved.
- Dental Implants: Replace a missing tooth with a permanent implant.
- Sedation Dentistry: Relax through treatment with oral or IV sedation.
- Emergency Dental Care: Get seen fast for sudden tooth pain or swelling.
Common Questions About Wisdom Teeth Removal in Hilliard and Columbus
Just Smiles treats wisdom teeth patients from Hilliard, Columbus, Dublin, Upper Arlington, Grove City, and Worthington, with in-office 3D imaging and surgery by Dr. Phil Chahine and his skilled team of dentists. Call 614-363-0030 or book your consultation online. If you already have a treatment plan from another office, your second opinion is free.
