Wisdom Teeth Removal at O2 Dental Group
Wisdom teeth are the last molars to show up, usually somewhere between 17 and 25, and plenty of jaws simply don’t have room for them. When they come in crooked, get stuck under the gum or start causing pain, taking them out is the usual fix. At O2, that happens in our own offices, with the same team that does your cleanings.
The essentials: all six O2 Dental Group offices remove wisdom teeth in-house, including impacted ones. Every office has a 3D CBCT scanner for planning. You’ll be numbed with local anesthetic, and nitrous oxide or an oral anti-anxiety medication is available if you’re nervous. An erupted wisdom tooth is $200–$600 to remove; an impacted one is $400–$1,200 per tooth.
Do your wisdom teeth need to come out?
Not always. A wisdom tooth that came in straight, has room, lines up with the tooth above or below it and can be brushed and flossed properly can often stay for life. The ones that cause trouble usually fall into one of these situations:
Impacted. The tooth is stuck under the gum or in the bone, often tilted against the molar in front of it.
Partly erupted. A flap of gum covers part of the tooth. Food gets trapped under it and the gum swells and gets infected, sometimes again and again.
Decay you can’t reach. The tooth is so far back that it’s nearly impossible to clean, so it decays, and sometimes the molar next to it does too.
Damage to neighbors. An angled wisdom tooth pushing on the molar in front can wear into that tooth’s root or trap bacteria between them.
Cysts. Less commonly, a fluid-filled sac forms around a trapped tooth and can damage bone.
Pain at the back of the jaw. Aching, pressure, a bad taste or trouble opening wide all deserve a look.
If none of that applies, we’ll tell you so. The 3D scan shows exactly where each tooth sits, which makes “leave it alone” an informed call rather than a guess.
Why the 3D scan matters
A regular dental X-ray is a flat picture. A CBCT scan is three-dimensional, and for wisdom teeth that difference is practical. The lower wisdom teeth often sit close to the nerve that gives feeling to your lower lip and chin, and the upper ones can sit right under the sinus. The scan shows how close the roots are to those structures and which direction the tooth is angled. That’s what lets us plan the removal, give you an accurate price, and recognize the rare case that should be referred out.
How removal works, start to finish
- Consultation and scan. The dentist examines your mouth and reviews the 3D scan with you. You’ll learn which teeth need to come out, whether any are impacted, and what the procedure will cost, in writing.
- Choosing comfort options. Local anesthetic numbs the area completely. If you’re anxious, you can add nitrous oxide, which wears off within minutes, or an oral anti-anxiety medication taken before the visit. With the oral medication, you’ll need someone to drive you.
- The procedure. Erupted teeth come out much like any other extraction. Impacted teeth may require a small opening in the gum and sometimes sectioning the tooth into pieces so it comes out without stressing the surrounding bone. You’ll feel pressure, not sharp pain.
- Going home. You leave with gauze, written aftercare instructions and a number to call if anything doesn’t feel right. Many patients have all their wisdom teeth removed in one visit.
What wisdom teeth removal costs
| Situation | Price per tooth |
|---|---|
|
Erupted wisdom tooth (fully through the gum) |
$200–$600 |
|
Impacted wisdom tooth (partly or fully trapped) |
$400–$1,200 |
|
Emergency exam and X-rays, if one is hurting now |
$87 |
For all four, the total depends on how many are impacted and how deep. Four erupted teeth start at $800; four deeply impacted teeth can reach $4,800. Most people land somewhere in between, and your consultation gives you the exact figure. Sedation, if you choose it, is listed separately on the same estimate.
For the full breakdown of extraction pricing, including bone grafts, see our tooth extraction cost page.
Insurance and payment
Most dental plans cover wisdom tooth removal in part. Some file it under oral surgery with its own percentage and deductible. We check your plan and show the estimated split before scheduling. Coverage pages: Delta Dental, Blue Cross NC, TRICARE dental.
Without insurance, O2 Advantage Plan members save 20% on wisdom tooth removal. The plan starts at $25 a month. Sunbit and CareCredit can spread the cost into monthly payments.
Recovery: what the first week looks like
Day 1: keep gentle pressure on the gauze, rest with your head raised, and use ice on the outside of your cheek. Stick to cool, soft foods like yogurt, smoothies eaten with a spoon, and applesauce.
Days 2 and 3: swelling usually peaks here, then starts going down. Switch to warm, soft foods such as mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs and pasta. Start gentle warm saltwater rinses after the first 24 hours.
Days 4 to 7: most people feel close to normal by the end of the week. Impacted teeth tend to take a little longer.
For the first several days, avoid drinking through a straw, smoking or vaping, and spitting hard. All three can pull the blood clot out of the socket and cause a painful condition called dry socket. If pain gets worse instead of better after day three, call us.
Full instructions are on our post-operative instructions page.
Where we remove wisdom teeth
Every office below has a CBCT scanner and removes wisdom teeth in-house.
| Office | Phone | Scheduling note |
|---|---|---|
|
Raleigh, 5321 Tin Roof Way |
(919) 341-4160 |
Alternate Saturdays available |
|
Durham, 3219 Watkins Rd |
(919) 813-2267 |
Alternate Fridays available |
|
Fayetteville, 1916 Skibo Rd |
(910) 484-5141 |
Open Fridays and until 6 PM Mon–Thu |
|
Wilmington, 7150 Market St |
(910) 377-6453 |
Open until 6 PM Mon–Thu |
|
Siler City, 103 Food Lion Plaza |
(984) 265-1655 |
Mon–Thu |
|
Southern Pines, 340 Capital Drive, Carthage |
(910) 839-0055 |
Mon–Thu |
Wisdom teeth questions
How much does wisdom teeth removal cost?
$200 to $600 per erupted tooth and $400 to $1,200 per impacted tooth. All four usually fall between $800 and $4,800, depending on how many are impacted.
Do you remove wisdom teeth in the office?
Yes, at all six offices, impacted teeth included. If yours is one of the rare cases better handled elsewhere, we’ll say so at the consultation.
Will I be asleep?
No. We use local anesthetic, with nitrous oxide or an oral anti-anxiety medication if you’d like help relaxing. General anesthesia isn’t offered in our offices.
Do all wisdom teeth have to come out?
No. Teeth that came in straight, have room and can be kept clean can often stay. The 3D scan tells us which ones those are.
How long is recovery?
A few days of rest and soft food for most people. Swelling peaks around day two or three, and most patients are back to normal in about a week.
What's the best age to have them removed?
They usually arrive between 17 and 25. Removal is often easier in the late teens and early twenties, before the roots fully form, but it’s decided tooth by tooth, not by birthday.
Find out if your wisdom teeth need to come out
A consultation and 3D scan give you a clear answer and an exact price.
Prices are O2 Dental Group’s current fees and may change. Your cost depends on how many teeth are removed and how they’re positioned; you’ll receive a written estimate before treatment. This page is general information, not a diagnosis.
