Dreading the pain and being awake for it
For most people, the fear about wisdom teeth is less about the teeth and more about lying there hearing and feeling it. You choose how awake you want to be. Numbing alone works for straightforward teeth, and nitrous or oral sedation takes the edge off. IV conscious sedation keeps you deeply relaxed and breathing on your own, and many people remember little of it afterward. Before anything starts, you agree on a stop signal, and it is honored every time.
Being sent to a surgeon across town for my wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth often get referred out, which means another office, another consultation and another wait. Here they are removed in-house. Dr. Shahir Khalil is a general dentist who holds an IV conscious sedation permit, earned through a residency at Miami Valley Hospital. In Ohio, a dentist cannot offer that level of sedation without a permit from the Ohio State Dental Board, and the board evaluates the office on-site before issuing one. That permit is what makes a one-sitting extraction possible in this office.
Not knowing if my wisdom teeth really need to come out
Not every wisdom tooth has to go. A tooth that came in straight, is easy to clean and has room in your jaw can often stay. Teeth that are stuck under the gum, coming in sideways or only partly through tend to trap food, cause swelling and push on the molar in front of them. Your digital X-ray goes up on the screen beside you, so you can see which kind you have. If yours can stay, you will hear that just as plainly. If a wisdom tooth is already swollen or throbbing, that is a reason for a same-day emergency visit rather than waiting.
Wanting it all done in one visit instead of three
Spreading wisdom teeth over several appointments means several recoveries, several days off work or school and several rounds of nerves. With IV sedation available in this office, all of them can often come out in a single sitting. The visit runs in a set order: your X-rays are reviewed with you, the sedation level you chose is started, the teeth are removed, and you rest until you are ready to be driven home with your aftercare instructions. The same approach applies when other teeth need to come out.
An honest referral when a case is too complex
Some wisdom teeth sit close to the nerve that gives feeling to your lower lip and chin, or are buried deep in the bone. When the X-ray shows a case like that, you are told why and referred to an oral surgeon instead of having the work kept here. Premier Family Dental is independent and doctor-owned, with no corporate target pushing every procedure to stay in-house, so a referral is about what is safest for you. You can read more about how referrals work here.
Frequently asked questions
What age should wisdom teeth come out?
Wisdom teeth usually come in between the late teens and mid-twenties. Removing problem ones earlier tends to be easier, because the roots are not fully formed and younger patients usually heal faster. That does not mean every teenager needs them out. The X-rays show whether there is room, and you get a plain answer either way.
How long is recovery after wisdom teeth removal?
Most people feel noticeably better within three or four days, with swelling usually peaking around the second or third day. Plan on soft foods for the first several days and take it easy for a day or two. Full healing of the gums takes a few weeks, but you will not be laid up for that long.
Does insurance cover wisdom teeth removal?
Many dental plans cover part of wisdom teeth removal, and sedation is sometimes covered when it is needed for the extraction. Coverage varies a lot between plans. Before anything is scheduled, you hear the cost of the extraction and the sedation level you chose, with your insurance applied, so the number does not change afterward.
What is dry socket and how do I avoid it?
Dry socket happens when the blood clot that forms in the empty socket comes loose too early, leaving the bone exposed and sore. To protect the clot, skip straws, hard spitting and smoking for the first several days. If the pain gets worse after day three instead of better, let the office know so it can be treated quickly.
Can I eat before IV sedation?
Usually not for several hours beforehand. You will be given specific instructions about when to stop eating and drinking, and following them closely matters for your safety under sedation. If you take daily medicines, ask whether to take them that morning.
Can I go back to work or school the next day?
Many people return to a desk job or class within a day or two, especially after a straightforward case. If you had IV sedation, plan to rest for the remainder of that day, and give yourself more time if your work is physical. You will get a realistic estimate based on your X-rays before the visit.