Wisdom Teeth Frequently Asked Questions

Wisdom teeth are the last molars to erupt, usually between ages 17–25. For many patients, they cause problems like pain, swelling, or infection — often suddenly and without warning. At Atlantis Dental, we treat these cases seriously because untreated wisdom tooth infections can flare up overnight and lead to serious swelling, jaw stiffness, or difficulty swallowing.

Yes. Dr. Naqvi prioritizes same-day treatment for wisdom tooth emergencies. If you’re in pain, we numb you immediately to stop the discomfort. If the X-ray shows a safe path and you can open your mouth comfortably, we often extract the tooth the same day to prevent things from getting worse.

Waiting too long can allow infection to spread rapidly — especially behind lower wisdom teeth. You could wake up with severe swelling, pus draining into your throat, and difficulty opening your mouth. If you have fever or trouble swallowing, you may need IV antibiotics at the emergency room before the tooth can even be extracted.

We use a panoramic X-ray to evaluate all four wisdom teeth at once, assess how close they are to nerves or sinuses, and determine the safest approach for removal.

If the tooth is too close to a major nerve or is deeply impacted, Dr. Naqvi will refer you to a trusted oral surgeon right downstairs. However, they are often booked out several weeks — so we try to help as many patients as possible in-office to avoid unnecessary delays.

Many offices don’t offer wisdom teeth removal at all. Dr. Naqvi, however, has advanced training and surgical experience, starting with her internship in Pakistan providing free care to underserved communities. There, she developed strong extraction skills early in her career — and today she can perform even complex extractions quickly, gently, and with minimal complications.

• Stay well hydrated

• Take any prescribed medications (like antibiotics or anxiety meds)

• Follow all instructions given by our team

• Let us know about any medical conditions or concerns in advance

We use local anesthesia to make sure you’re completely numb. For anxious patients, Dr. Naqvi may prescribe diazepam (Valium) in advance. We do not offer general anesthesia, but we make sure your experience is calm and painless.

Yes! Most of our patients go back to work the next day, even with some swelling. Just avoid heavy lifting, gym workouts, or strenuous activity until your mouth has healed.

Dry socket happens when the clot at the extraction site gets dislodged, exposing bone and nerves. It’s very painful and doesn’t respond to regular pain meds.

To avoid dry socket:

• Don’t smoke or vape
• Don’t use a straw
• Don’t rinse or spit forcefully

If it happens, come see us right away — we’ll place a special dressing to relieve the pain and promote healing.

At Atlantis Dental, we believe no one should suffer through dental pain because of finances.We offer fast, flexible financing for all budgets and credit types — with applications that take less than five minutes to complete.

If you’re facing an emergency and don’t know how to cover the cost, please don’t wait — we’ll help you find a payment plan that works.

Consultation fee: only $49 — includes a panoramic X-ray and doctor’s exam. From there, we’ll walk you through all costs and financing options clearly, before we do anything.

• Same-day emergency care whenever possible

• Decades of hands-on surgical experience

• A trusted referral network for complex cases

• Compassionate care with fast recovery

• Clear pricing, gentle technique, and practical follow-up support