If you or your teenager needs wisdom teeth removal in Charleston, WV, Mountain State Oral and Facial Surgery performs the procedure at our Oakwood Road office in the South Hills area, minutes from downtown Charleston off I-64. Our board-certified and board-eligible oral and maxillofacial surgeons remove wisdom teeth every week, including impacted teeth and teeth close to the nerve or sinus, with IV sedation and general anesthesia available in the office.Wisdom teeth are the third molars that usually appear between ages 17 and 25. Most jaws do not have room for them, so they come in crooked, only partway, or not at all, and removing them is a routine oral surgery procedure that prevents crowding, infection, cysts, and damage to the neighboring molars.
Below you will find how we decide whether removal is needed, what the appointment looks like at our Charleston office, what recovery involves, and how insurance and financing work.
Why Wisdom Teeth Are Removed
Not every wisdom tooth needs to come out. A tooth that has fully erupted, sits in a healthy position, and can be cleaned is often left alone. The problems start when there is no room.
| • | Impaction: the tooth stays trapped in the bone or gum, which can cause pain, pressure, and swelling at the back of the jaw. |
| • | Partial eruption: a tooth that breaks through only partway leaves a flap of gum where food and bacteria collect, leading to repeated infections (pericoronitis). |
| • | Crowding and damage: a wisdom tooth pushing sideways can wear against the root of the second molar or shift the teeth in front of it, undoing years of orthodontic work. |
| • | Decay and gum disease: third molars are hard to reach with a brush and floss, so cavities and gum problems develop there first and can spread forward. |
| • | Cysts and tumors: a sac of fluid can form around an impacted tooth and slowly hollow out the surrounding bone if it goes unnoticed. |
Our risks of not removing wisdom teeth page explains what can happen when problem teeth are left in place.
When to Have Wisdom Teeth Evaluated
The ideal time to evaluate wisdom teeth is in the mid-to-late teens, when the roots are still forming and the surrounding bone is softer. Removal at that stage is simpler and recovery is faster. That said, we treat adults of every age; the procedure just calls for more careful planning when roots are fully developed and sit near the nerve in the lower jaw or the sinus in the upper jaw.At your consultation we take a panoramic X-ray and, when a tooth sits close to the nerve or sinus, a 3D cone beam scan. Those images show us the exact position of each tooth and root and let us plan the safest approach before surgery day. Many Charleston families schedule the evaluation during a routine dental visit and then book the removal over a school break.
What to Expect at Our Charleston Office
Anesthesia and Sedation
Comfort is the first decision we make together. Wisdom teeth can be removed under local anesthesia alone, but most patients choose IV sedation or general anesthesia, both of which we provide in the office. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons complete hospital-based anesthesia training as part of their residency, and our team monitors you throughout the procedure. Our anesthesia options page describes each level.
The Procedure
Once you are comfortable, your surgeon makes a small opening in the gum, removes any bone covering the tooth, and lifts the tooth out. Teeth that are firmly held are divided into sections so they come out with less pressure on the surrounding bone. The site is cleaned, and dissolving stitches are placed if needed. All four teeth are usually removed in one visit, and most appointments are finished within an hour.
Recovery
You will need someone to drive you home if you were sedated. Expect swelling and soreness for the first two to three days, with most patients back to school or work within three to five days. Soft foods, cold packs, and the comfort plan we send home take care of most of the discomfort, and we use non-opioid options wherever possible. Our post-operative extraction instructions cover bleeding, diet, cleaning, and the signs of dry socket to watch for. If you ever have severe pain or swelling after hours, call us.
Wisdom Teeth Removal for Teens and College Students
A large share of the wisdom teeth we remove in Charleston belong to high school and college students, and timing matters for them. Summer, winter, and spring breaks give a student the three to five days of recovery without missing class or practice. If your student is heading off to school in the fall, an evaluation in late spring leaves time to schedule removal before they leave. Parents are welcome in the consultation, and we go over the anesthesia plan, recovery expectations, and instructions with both of you.
Benefits of Having Wisdom Teeth Removed
| • | Relief: pain, pressure, and repeated gum infections at the back of the jaw stop once the source is gone. |
| • | Protection for the teeth you keep: removing a tooth that is pushing on the second molar prevents root damage, decay, and shifting. |
| • | Easier hygiene: without a partially covered molar to work around, brushing and flossing the back of the mouth actually reaches everything. |
| • | Fewer surprises later: cysts and infections around impacted teeth are far simpler to prevent than to treat once they have damaged bone. |
| • | Simpler recovery when done early: shorter roots and softer bone in the teens and early twenties mean a smaller procedure and a faster healing curve. |
Why Choose Mountain State for Wisdom Teeth Removal in Charleston
Wisdom teeth removal is one of the procedures oral surgeons are specifically trained for, and it shows in the difficult cases: fully impacted teeth, roots wrapped around the nerve, upper teeth pressing into the sinus. Our surgeons plan those cases on 3D imaging and, when a root sits directly on the nerve, can perform a coronectomy that removes the crown of the tooth while leaving the root undisturbed.
Charleston patients can be seen at our Oakwood Road office or at our Kanawha City office on MacCorkle Avenue, whichever is closer. Both offer the same in-office sedation and anesthesia. Our office serves families from South Hills, Fort Hill, the East End, the West Side, and the communities up and down the Kanawha Valley. To meet the surgeons who will care for you, visit our Meet Our Doctors page, and to hear from patients who have been in your seat, read our wisdom teeth patient stories.
Wisdom Teeth Removal Cost and Insurance in Charleston
The cost depends on how many teeth are removed, whether they are erupted or impacted, and the anesthesia you choose. Most dental insurance plans cover wisdom teeth removal, and impacted teeth are sometimes covered under medical insurance as well. Our front office verifies your benefits before your appointment and gives you an estimate up front, so there are no surprises on the day of surgery. For patients paying out of pocket, we offer monthly payment options through Cherry payment plans, CareCredit, LendingClub, and Proceed Finance; see our financial and insurance information page.
Wisdom Teeth Removal FAQs
At what age should wisdom teeth be removed?
Most wisdom teeth are evaluated between ages 16 and 20 and removed, when needed, before the roots fully form in the early twenties. Adults can have wisdom teeth removed at any age; the procedure simply takes more planning once the roots are complete.
Will I be asleep during wisdom teeth removal?
If you choose IV sedation or general anesthesia, yes. Both are available in our Charleston office, and we review your health history to recommend the option that fits you. Local anesthesia alone is also an option for straightforward, erupted teeth.
How long does recovery take after wisdom teeth removal?
Swelling and soreness peak around day two or three and improve from there. Most patients return to school or desk work within three to five days and to full activity within one to two weeks. Complete healing of the sockets takes a few months.
What is dry socket and how do I avoid it?
Dry socket happens when the blood clot protecting the extraction site is lost too early, exposing bone and nerve. Avoid straws, smoking, vigorous rinsing, and spitting for the first several days, and follow the diet and cleaning instructions we send home. If pain increases after day three instead of improving, call us so we can treat the site.
Do all four wisdom teeth have to come out at once?
Not necessarily, but when more than one tooth needs removal, most patients prefer a single appointment and a single recovery. Your surgeon will recommend the approach that makes sense for your teeth and your schedule.
Schedule Wisdom Teeth Removal in Charleston, WV
If wisdom teeth are causing pain or your dentist has recommended removal, contact Mountain State Oral and Facial Surgery at (304) 343-5161 to schedule a consultation at our Charleston office at 869 Oakwood Rd, Charleston, WV 25314. We are open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM.
Our Charleston office also provides tooth extractions, dental implants, and bone grafting, along with the full range of oral surgery in Charleston.
