Wisdom Teeth Removal Richmond VA
Virginia Oral & Facial Surgery provides wisdom teeth evaluation and removal throughout the greater Richmond area, with seven office locations serving patients and families across Richmond, Midlothian, Mechanicsville, Sandston, Henrico, Chester, and surrounding communities.
Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons evaluate developing and impacted wisdom teeth, review anesthesia options, and create individualized treatment plans based on each patient’s needs.
What to Expect at Your Wisdom Teeth Consultation
With an oral examination and x-rays of the mouth, Dr. Harris, Dr. Dymon, Dr. Wlodawsky, Dr. Watson, Dr. Agnihotri, Dr. Wheeler, Dr. Phelps, Dr. Herrera or Dr. Gardner can evaluate the position and development of your wisdom teeth and identify present or potential concerns.
Patients are often first evaluated during the teenage years by their dentist, orthodontist, or an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. During your consultation, your surgeon can discuss whether removal is recommended, what treatment may involve, and which anesthesia options may be appropriate.
Do You Need Your Wisdom Teeth Removed?
If your wisdom teeth are causing you pain or you want to avoid future problems, contact our office to schedule an appointment.
Why Choose an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon for Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Wisdom teeth removal can be more involved when teeth are impacted, positioned near nerves or sinuses, or require a surgical approach. Choosing an oral surgeon for wisdom teeth removal provides access to specialized training in surgical extraction, facial and jaw anatomy, anesthesia, and the management of more complex cases.
At Virginia Oral & Facial Surgery, our oral and maxillofacial surgeons provide wisdom teeth care from evaluation through surgery and recovery. With multiple locations throughout the greater Richmond area, patients and families can access specialized surgical care close to home.
Why Should I Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed?
If you do not have enough room in your mouth for your third molars to fully erupt, a number of problems can happen. Impacted wisdom teeth should be removed before their root structure is fully developed. In some patients it is as early as 12 or 13, and in others it may not be until the early twenties. Problems tend to occur with increasing frequency after the age of 30. Some of the possible problems related to not removing your wisdom teeth include:
Infection:
The most frequent clinical problem we see is pericoronitis, (a localized gum infection). Without enough room for total eruption, the gum tissue around the wisdom tooth can become irritated and infected, resulting in recurrent pain, swelling, and problems with chewing and/or swallowing.
Cyst Formation:
Non-infectious diseases may also arise in association with an impacted wisdom tooth. Cysts are fluid-filled “balloons” inside the jaw bone that develop as a result of impacted teeth and slowly expand destroying adjacent jaw bone and occasionally teeth. They can be very difficult to treat if your wisdom teeth are not removed in your teenage years. Although rare, tumors can be associated with the delayed removal of wisdom teeth.
Possible Crowding:
Impacted wisdom teeth may contribute to crowding of your teeth. This is most noticeable with the front teeth, primarily the lower front teeth and is most commonly seen after a patient has had braces. There are a number of factors that cause teeth to crowd after braces or in early adulthood. Retained, impacted wisdom teeth may be a contributing factor. Unless you have an active problem when you see the oral surgeon, the reason for removal is primarily to prevent long-term damage to your teeth, gums and jaw bone.
Damage to Adjacent Teeth:
If there is inadequate room to clean around the wisdom tooth, the tooth directly in front, the second molar, can be adversely affected resulting in gum disease, bone loss around the tooth, and/or decay.
What If I Don’t Have My Wisdom Teeth Removed As A Teenager Or Young Adult?
As wisdom teeth continue to develop, their roots become longer and the jawbone becomes denser. When impacted wisdom teeth need to be removed in the thirties, forties, or later, recovery may take longer and the risk of complications can increase. Healing may also be slower, and infection or other post-operative concerns may be more likely than in younger patients.
If impacted wisdom teeth were not removed during the teenage years or early twenties and remain completely embedded in bone, your oral surgeon will evaluate whether removal is appropriate based on your individual situation. In some cases, continued monitoring may be recommended until a localized problem, such as cyst formation, gum disease, or bone loss, develops. Patients generally heal more predictably and experience fewer complications when treatment is performed during the teens or early twenties.
For patients under age 18, a parent or guardian must accompany them to all appointments. If IV anesthesia is planned, a responsible adult must also accompany the patient to the office, remain there during the procedure, and provide transportation home afterward.
What Happens on the Day Wisdom Teeth Are Removed?
Most patients prefer to be unaware of the experience when their wisdom teeth are removed and choose some form of sedation. Your surgeon will review the appropriate anesthesia options during your consultation. VOFS performs outpatient surgery with trained surgical teams, modern monitoring equipment, and established safety and infection-control protocols.
Before Surgery
On the morning or afternoon of your surgery, it is important that you have nothing to eat or drink for at least six hours before your procedure, except for approved prescription medications taken with a small sip of water. Having food or liquid in your stomach can increase the risk of anesthetic complications and may require your surgery to be rescheduled.
If IV sedation is planned, review the pre-operative instructions for IV anesthesia provided by your surgical team before your appointment.
A parent or responsible adult should accompany you to the office and plan to stay with you for the remainder of the day after wisdom teeth removal.
The Day of Treatment
Please do not eat or drink anything prior to your surgery. Having anything in your stomach can increase the risk for serious anesthetic complications.
During Wisdom Teeth Removal
On the day of your procedure, medications may be provided to help minimize post-operative pain and swelling. Wisdom teeth removal typically takes about 30 to 60 minutes, although you will generally be in the office for approximately 90 minutes to allow time for preparation and early recovery.
When you are seated in the surgical room, our team will make every effort to keep you comfortable. If you are receiving sedation, an IV is usually placed to administer the medication. Local anesthesia is also provided to keep the surgical areas comfortable during treatment and for a period of time afterward.
VOFS uses appropriate sterilization, infection-control, and patient-monitoring procedures throughout treatment.
The Day of Treatment
Be sure to have an adult with you at the time of removal. Make plans to have a parent or responsible adult stay with you for the rest of the day, following wisdom tooth removal.
After Surgery
After the procedure, you will be able to return home with your responsible adult and should plan to rest for the remainder of the day. If sedation was used, you can expect to feel sleepy for a significant portion of the day.
If stitches are needed, VOFS typically uses sutures that dissolve within about three to five days and do not require removal. Swelling or a feeling that the gums are pulling away from the teeth can also occur during early healing and should gradually improve.
Once the local anesthesia wears off, you may need pain medication. Your surgeon will provide instructions based on your procedure and may recommend trying a non-narcotic anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen before using other prescribed pain medication when appropriate.
For your post-operative diet, begin with clear liquids and gradually add more substantial foods as tolerated. VOFS recommends avoiding dairy products such as yogurt, ice cream, and milkshakes on the day of surgery because nausea and vomiting can occur in combination with anesthesia and pain medication.
Medication note: If you are prescribed antibiotics and take birth control pills, follow the medication guidance provided by your surgical team and ask about any additional precautions that may be appropriate.
Before you leave, your surgical team will review your post-operative instructions for wisdom tooth removal so you know how to care for the surgical sites during recovery.
When Should I Call Our Office After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Most swelling and discomfort should gradually improve as healing progresses. Contact our office if pain or swelling becomes worse rather than better after the first few days, or if you have concerns about bleeding, infection, or how the surgical sites are healing.
A dry socket can cause increasing pain several days after an extraction and may require additional care from your oral surgeon. Following your post-operative instructions can help protect the healing blood clot and reduce the risk of complications.
As healing continues, your surgical team may also instruct you to begin irrigating the wisdom tooth sockets to help keep the areas clean.
What Does Wisdom Tooth Removal Cost and Is It Covered by Insurance?
The fee for your treatment is determined by several factors. These may include the difficulty involved in removing your teeth and the type of anesthesia that is best for you. During your consultation appointment, the surgeon will need to review your x-rays, complete an examination, and determine the best option for anesthesia before an accurate estimate can be provided. Every insurance company has a different policy regarding the extent of coverage for a given surgical procedure. The oral surgeon’s office staff will help you obtain maximum insurance coverage for your treatment.
For additional details, review our insurance information and financial policy
Schedule a Wisdom Teeth Consultation in the Greater Richmond Area
If you or your teen has developing, impacted, or symptomatic wisdom teeth, our oral surgeons can evaluate their position and help determine whether removal is appropriate.
With seven offices throughout the greater Richmond area, Virginia Oral & Facial Surgery makes it convenient for patients and families to access specialized wisdom teeth care close to home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your specific treatment plan will be discussed in detail during your consultation, and we encourage you to ask any questions you may have. If additional questions come up before surgery, contact our office at any one of our locations to speak with one of our patient care coordinators.
Wisdom teeth may need to be removed when there is not enough room for them to erupt normally, when they are impacted, when they are difficult to clean, when they cause infection, when they contribute to cyst formation, or when they affect the neighboring second molar. During your consultation, a VOFS oral surgeon will examine your mouth and review X-rays to determine whether removal is appropriate. Learn more about impacted wisdom teeth .
At VOFS, wisdom teeth removal typically takes about 30 to 60 minutes, although the total time in the office is usually closer to 90 minutes to allow for preparation and early recovery. Treatment time can vary depending on the number, position, and complexity of the teeth being removed.
Not necessarily. Your oral surgeon will evaluate each wisdom tooth based on its position, development, symptoms, and potential effect on nearby teeth and tissues. Depending on what the examination and X-rays show, removal may be recommended for some or all of the wisdom teeth.
Recovery varies by patient and by the number and position of the teeth removed. Most patients should plan to limit activity for the first few days, with swelling commonly peaking around the second day and beginning to improve afterward. VOFS notes that many patients feel they are “over the hump” within about 3 to 5 days. More detailed guidance is available on the After Extraction of Wisdom Teeth page.
Begin with liquids and soft foods that do not require significant chewing, and gradually return to more substantial foods as tolerated. Follow the dietary instructions provided by your surgical team and avoid foods or habits that could disturb the healing extraction sites. VOFS also provides additional guidance on foods to eat after wisdom teeth removal.
