Wisdom teeth removal in Miami,
planned with a 3D scan first.

Signs your wisdom teeth may need to come out

Wisdom teeth are the third molars at the very back of your mouth. They usually show up between about 17 and 21, and plenty of people never have trouble with them. When there isn't enough room, though, they can come in crooked, get stuck under the gum, or only partly break through. Those are the teeth that tend to cause problems.

• Pain or pressure behind your last molar that comes and goes
• Swollen, tender gum over a tooth that is only partly in, sometimes with a bad taste
• Food that keeps getting packed behind your back teeth
• A cavity in the wisdom tooth or in the molar right in front of it
• Jaw stiffness or trouble opening wide when the area flares up

Not every wisdom tooth has to go

A wisdom tooth that is fully in, sits straight, bites properly and is easy to keep clean can often stay. We would rather watch a healthy tooth at your regular checkups than pull it because it is "supposed" to come out.

The teeth we usually recommend removing are the ones causing pain, infection or decay, or the ones your exam and X-rays show are likely to cause trouble for the molar next to them. Either way, you get the reasons in plain language and you decide.

Impacted wisdom teeth, explained simply

"Impacted" just means the tooth is stuck and can't come in all the way. Dentists describe impaction in two ways: how deep the tooth is, and which way it is pointing. Both affect how simple or involved removal is likely to be.

How deep the tooth sits

• Erupted: the tooth is fully through the gum. Removal is often similar to taking out any other back tooth.
• Soft-tissue impaction: the tooth is out of the bone but a flap of gum still covers part of it. Food and bacteria get trapped under the flap, which is a common cause of the swollen, sore gum called pericoronitis.
• Partial bony impaction: part of the tooth is still held in the jawbone. Removal usually takes more steps, and the tooth may need to be taken out in sections.
• Full bony impaction: the whole tooth is inside the bone. These are the most involved and are often referred to an oral surgeon.

Which way the tooth points

• Tilted forward: the most common angle, leaning into the molar in front. It can trap food and, over time, cause decay or damage to that molar.
• Lying sideways: the tooth is horizontal under the gum, pushing into the roots of the tooth in front.
• Upright: pointing the right way but without room to come in fully.
• Tilted back: leaning toward the back of the jaw, which is less common.

How we check: exam, 3D scan and X-rays

Every new patient starts with a free first visit: an exam, a digital 3D scan and a smile preview. The 3D scan is a detailed map of the teeth and gums you can see. For wisdom teeth, it shows how much of each tooth has come through, whether a gum flap is trapping food, how much room is left behind your last molar, and how your bite lines up.

What a surface scan can't show is what is happening under the gum and inside the bone. For that, we take dental X-rays, and for some lower teeth a CBCT, a 3D X-ray that shows exactly how close the roots sit to the nerve in your lower jaw or to the sinus above your upper teeth. X-rays and a CBCT are separate from the first visit, and their cost is confirmed with you before they are taken.

Together, those pictures tell us whether a tooth is a straightforward removal or one that should go to an oral surgeon. See our new patient page for what the first visit looks like.

Who removes your wisdom teeth

Dr. Rana is a general dentist, not an oral surgeon. He removes wisdom teeth that the exam and X-rays show can be taken out safely in a general dental office, which covers many teeth that are fully or partly in.

If a tooth is deeply impacted, sits right against the nerve, or your health history makes the procedure more involved, we will tell you so and refer you to an oral surgeon we trust. You leave with your images and a clear explanation, so you are not starting over somewhere else.

Age and timing

Wisdom teeth are commonly checked in the late teens or early twenties, when the roots are often not fully formed and the surrounding bone tends to be less dense. If a tooth clearly needs to come out, removal at that age is often simpler and healing tends to be quicker. That doesn't mean every teen needs surgery. It means that is a good time to look and make a plan.

Adults remove wisdom teeth too, and many do well. With age the roots are longer, the bone is firmer, and recovery can take a little longer, so if a tooth is already causing repeated trouble, putting it off for years usually doesn't make it easier. If a tooth is healthy and causing no problems, regular checkups to watch it are a reasonable choice at any age.

Practical timing matters as well. Many people plan removal around a long weekend, a school break or a lighter week at work, since the first two or three days are usually the hardest. Our hours include Saturdays, which helps.

Staying comfortable during the procedure

We numb the area fully with local anesthetic and check that you can't feel anything sharp before we begin. You may feel pressure, but you shouldn't feel pain. If you are nervous about dental work, oral sedation dentistry is available so you can stay relaxed; if you choose it, plan for someone to drive you home. Our team speaks English and Spanish, and we explain each step before we do it.

Risks to know about

Wisdom tooth removal is a common procedure and most people heal without problems. Like any surgery, though, it has risks, and you should hear them before you agree to it:

• Dry socket. The blood clot in the socket comes loose or dissolves early, leaving the bone exposed. Pain usually gets worse around day two to four instead of better. It is more common with lower teeth and in people who smoke. Our guide to preventing dry socket covers what helps.
• Infection. Signs include swelling that grows after day three, pus, a bad taste that won't go away, or a fever.
• Bleeding, swelling and bruising. Some oozing on the first day is normal, and swelling and bruising on the cheek are common for several days.
• Jaw stiffness. Opening wide can be hard for a week or so.
• Nerve irritation. Lower wisdom teeth can sit close to the nerve that gives feeling to the lip, chin and tongue. Numbness or tingling afterward is uncommon and usually temporary, but rarely it can last. This is one of the main reasons we check the root position first and refer the teeth that sit too close.
• Sinus opening. Upper wisdom teeth can sit next to the sinus. A small opening sometimes forms and usually heals on its own with care.
• Effects on the nearby tooth. A filling or crown on the molar in front can occasionally be affected.

Recovery, day by day

Everyone heals at a different pace, and a tooth that was fully in usually heals faster than one that was impacted. This is what a typical recovery often looks like. You go home with written instructions, and you can call or text us with any question.

Day 1

• Keep gentle, steady pressure on the gauze for the first hour or so, and replace it if oozing continues
• Rest with your head raised on a pillow or two
• Use an ice pack on the cheek, about 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off
• Take pain medicine as we direct, ideally before the numbness wears off
• Don't rinse, spit forcefully, use a straw or smoke, so the clot can form

Days 2 and 3

• Swelling and stiffness usually peak now, and some bruising may show
• Start gentle warm salt-water rinses after the first 24 hours, letting the water fall out of your mouth rather than spitting
• Keep to soft foods and keep resting more than usual

Days 4 to 7

• Swelling goes down and most people are back to work or school
• Pain should ease a little each day; if it gets worse instead, call us, since that can be a sign of dry socket
• Brush your other teeth normally and clean near the sockets gently

Weeks 2 to 4 and beyond

• Stitches, if you had them, dissolve or are removed
• The sockets slowly close over; food may catch in them for a while, and gentle rinsing after meals helps
• The bone underneath keeps filling in for a few months

Call us right away if bleeding won't stop with firm pressure, if you have a fever, pus or swelling that grows after day three, or if numbness doesn't wear off. For severe swelling or trouble breathing or swallowing, go to the ER.

What to eat after wisdom teeth removal

Eating well helps you heal, so don't skip meals. The goal is food you don't have to chew much, served cool or lukewarm at first.

First 24 hours

• Yogurt, pudding, applesauce and flan
• Smoothies and shakes, eaten with a spoon, not a straw
• Lukewarm broth or blended soup, never hot

Days 2 to 5

• Mashed potatoes or mashed plantains, scrambled eggs and oatmeal
• Soft pasta, well-cooked mashed black beans and hummus
• Soft fish, avocado and ripe banana

Avoid for about a week

• Straws, which can pull the clot loose
• Chips, nuts, seeds, popcorn and crusty bread, which can get stuck in the socket
• Spicy and very acidic food, which can sting
• Alcohol, especially while you take pain medicine, plus smoking and vaping

After about a week most people move back to normal food, chewing on the other side at first. If something hurts to eat, give it a few more days.

What wisdom teeth removal costs in Miami

There is no single price, because no two cases are alike. A tooth that is fully in is usually simpler than one under the gum, and one under the gum is usually simpler than one inside the bone. We give you the exact number in writing before treatment, with no surprise fees. The main things that change the cost:

• How many teeth come out, and whether you do them all in one visit
• Whether each tooth is fully in, under the gum or held in the bone
• The imaging needed, such as X-rays or a CBCT
• Whether you choose oral sedation
• Whether any tooth is referred to an oral surgeon, whose office sets its own fees

For costs your insurance doesn't cover, 0% financing is available on approved credit through CareCredit, Cherry and LendingClub. See financing and our pricing page for more.

Insurance and wisdom teeth

We accept most major dental insurance. Many dental plans pay part of a needed extraction, though how much depends on the plan. Many plans also have annual maximums that are often in the $1,000 to $2,000 range, and some have waiting periods before they pay for oral surgery services. Your share depends on your deductible and on how much of your yearly maximum is already used.

If you need both an extraction and other work this year, timing can matter, and we can talk that through with you. Bring your insurance details to your visit and we check your benefits for you.

Painful wisdom tooth? Same-day appointments

A swollen, throbbing wisdom tooth is hard to ignore. We offer same-day appointments Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm. Call or text (786) 579-0521 first and we will find you a time. A same-day visit is for checking the tooth and easing the pain; if removal is needed, it may be done that day or planned for a later visit, depending on the tooth.

For other urgent problems, see our emergency dentist page.

Close to Midtown, Wynwood, Brickell and Miami Beach

We are at 3050 Biscayne Blvd, Suite 703, at NE 30th Street in Edgewater, with building and street parking. It is a short trip from Midtown, Wynwood and the Design District, and an easy drive up Biscayne from Downtown and Brickell or over the causeway from Miami Beach, depending on traffic. If you live in the neighborhood, see our Edgewater dentist page.

About the dentist

Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS

Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS is a general dentist trained at NYU College of Dentistry, with more than $100,000 in continuing education. He plans and treats each case at Prana Dental himself, works with our in-house lab, and refers to a specialist when a case needs one.

Questions, answered

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