Wisdom teeth
Wisdom Teeth Removal in Greenwich, CT
Some wisdom teeth cause repeated infection and crowd the teeth around them. Others sit quietly for a lifetime. An X-ray helps us tell the difference.
What it involves
Removing all four wisdom teeth as a routine rite of passage has fallen out of favor, and for good reason. What calls for removal is a genuine problem: recurring gum infection around the tooth, decay that is hard to clean, pressure on the neighboring tooth, or a forming cyst.
We assess the angle, the root shape and how close the roots sit to the nerve, then tell you plainly whether this is a case for removal, for watching over time, or for a referral to an oral surgeon.
Assessment
X-ray of angle, root shape and nerve proximity before any decision
Done here
Straightforward cases removed in the office
Referred
Deeply impacted or high-risk cases sent on, with records ahead of you
Patient rating
5.0 from 121 reviews
Who this is for
When we recommend it
- Recurring soreness or swelling at the back of the jaw around a partly erupted tooth.
- A dentist elsewhere has flagged a wisdom tooth on an X-ray and you want a second look.
- Difficulty cleaning around the back molars no matter how carefully you brush.
- Pressure or pain in the tooth just in front of a wisdom tooth.
- You are simply curious whether yours need to come out at all.
Step by step
How the treatment runs
- 01
X-ray and assessment
A look at the angle of each tooth, the shape of the roots, and how close they sit to the nerve.
- 02
A plain recommendation
Remove, monitor, or refer — stated clearly, with the reasoning behind it rather than a blanket answer.
- 03
Removal, if it's needed
Straightforward cases are done in the office under local anesthetic; ask about comfort options if you would like more than that.
- 04
Recovery check-in
A follow-up to confirm the site is healing as expected, particularly for a surgical removal.
Afterwards
What to expect once you leave
Same day
Expect some swelling and grogginess if anesthetic was used; plan a quiet rest of the day rather than a full schedule.
First week
Soft food and gentle rinsing for two to three days for a simple removal, up to a week for a surgical one.
Long term
Once healed, the site needs no special care beyond normal brushing and flossing of the teeth around it.
What a wisdom tooth removal costs depends heavily on the angle and depth of the tooth, which is why nothing is quoted until the X-ray has been reviewed.
Straightforward removals handled here are priced separately from any case referred out for a harder impaction, so you know from the start which category yours falls into.
A written estimate is provided before treatment, a claim is filed on your behalf, and payment can be made by card or HSA or FSA funds.
Other ways to go
What we would also put in front of you
Monitor and wait
A fully erupted wisdom tooth with no infection history and one you can clean is often best left alone and reviewed at future checkups.
Read moreRemove now
Justified by a real problem — recurring infection, decay you cannot reach, or pressure on the tooth in front — rather than as routine practice.
Referral for a complex case
A deeply impacted tooth close to the nerve is sent on with your records already in hand, rather than attempted here.
Why patients choose us for this
Not removed as a rite of passage
We only recommend removal when the X-ray shows a real reason, and say so when a tooth is better left alone.
Straightforward cases done here
No separate specialist visit needed for the cases that do not require one.
Honest referrals
Deeply impacted or higher-risk teeth are sent out promptly, with your records ahead of you, rather than attempted past the point that makes sense in-office.
People come to us with
Q & A
Questions we are asked about wisdom teeth
Only when they are causing, or are clearly likely to cause, a real problem. A fully erupted wisdom tooth that you can brush properly, with no history of infection, is often best left alone and monitored.
That link is weaker than it is sometimes made out to be. Lower-front crowding in adults happens with or without wisdom teeth, and correcting it is really a question for aligners rather than extraction.
Expect two to three days of swelling and soft foods for a simple removal, up to about a week for a surgical case. It is worth planning a quiet weekend rather than a busy Monday.
An X-ray and assessment can usually be arranged quickly, and sooner if there is pain or swelling — call the office and describe the symptoms.
The removal itself is done under local anesthetic, so it should not be painful during the procedure. Ask about comfort options when you book if you are anxious about it.
For a simple removal, many people manage light activity the next day, though swelling can last two to three days. A surgical removal is better planned around a quiet weekend.
The infection or pressure that is causing the pain typically does not resolve on its own and tends to recur, sometimes affecting the tooth beside it.
Not necessarily. Each tooth is assessed on its own X-ray and history, and it is common for some to need removal while others are simply monitored.
Where we are
Cos Cob, minutes from central Greenwich
211 East Putnam Avenue, Suite 2-6, Cos Cob, CT 06807. Parking at the building. Mon–Tue 8a–7p, Wed–Thu 8a–5p, Fri 9a–2p.
Wisdom Teeth for patients in
Tell us what is bothering you and we will tell you what it takes to fix it.