Pain at the very back of your mouth, a swollen flap of gum, or a jaw that won't open all the way usually means a wisdom tooth is in trouble. Call (863) 555-0170 and we'll see you the same day, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, to find out what the tooth is doing and stop the pain.
The $70 is a minimum fee for patients paying without insurance. It covers a limited, problem-focused emergency exam (ADA code D0140) and the X-ray needed to diagnose the tooth. Treatment is priced separately and quoted to you in writing before any work starts.
Same-day appointments · $70 exam + X-ray · Phones answered 24/7 · Se habla español
Signs you need to be seen for wisdom tooth pain today
- Throbbing or aching behind your last molar, on one side or both
- Red, swollen gum over a partly erupted tooth, often with a bad taste
- Pain when opening your mouth wide, or a jaw that feels stiff
- Swelling in the cheek or under the jaw on that side
- Pain in the ear, throat or neighboring teeth that seems to come from the back of the jaw
- Fever, or swollen glands under the jaw
Most wisdom tooth pain is pericoronitis, an infection under the gum flap that covers a tooth that hasn't fully come through. Food and bacteria get trapped beneath the flap, and the gum swells and hurts. It responds well to same-day treatment. Left alone, it can turn into an abscess.
What happens at your same-day visit
Our dentist examines the area and takes an X-ray that shows the whole tooth: how much is still in the bone, which way it's angled, and whether it's pressing on the tooth in front. That picture, plus how the gum looks, decides the treatment.
For an infected gum flap, the area is cleaned out under the gum, rinsed, and you're given instructions and often a short course of antibiotics. Relief tends to be quick. For a wisdom tooth that is impacted, decayed, or damaging the molar next to it, our dentist will talk through removing it, which has its own page: emergency wisdom tooth extraction. Sometimes the tooth is coming through normally and just needs the gum around it kept clean while it finishes. In every case you hear the plan and see a written price before anything starts.
Cost of wisdom tooth treatment in Winter Haven
For patients paying without insurance, the exam and X-ray are $70. Cleaning under the flap, medication, or an extraction are each priced separately, and our dentist writes the figure down before starting. Most PPO dental plans and several Medicare Advantage plans are accepted; Cherry and CareCredit financing are available. See the cost and insurance page.
Why patients choose our Winter Haven office
Same-day emergency times and an 8:00 AM opening, so a wisdom tooth that flared up overnight is looked at first thing. The phone is answered 24/7 by a real person. Diagnosis, cleaning and, when needed, extraction all happen in our office. Spanish is spoken by our staff during office hours.
Wisdom tooth pain relief near you in Winter Haven
Our office is at 1178 Havendale Blvd NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881, on Havendale Boulevard NW just west of US 17, a few minutes from Polk State College and downtown. Students and families come from downtown Winter Haven, Auburndale and Eagle Lake in about ten minutes. Parking on site.
Frequently asked questions
How long does wisdom tooth pain last?
An infected gum flap usually calms within a few days once it's cleaned and treated, though it tends to come back until the tooth either finishes erupting or is removed. Pain from an impacted tooth pressing on its neighbor doesn't resolve on its own. Call (863) 555-0170 rather than waiting it out.
What can I do at home tonight?
Rinse with warm salt water several times, gently brush the area if you can reach it, take ibuprofen or acetaminophen as the package directs, and stick to soft foods. Avoid pushing food into the flap. If the swelling reaches the cheek or you have trouble opening your mouth, be seen the next morning.
Do all wisdom teeth need to come out?
No. Wisdom teeth that have come through straight, have room, and can be kept clean can stay. The ones that are angled into the neighboring molar, trapped under the gum, or repeatedly infected are the ones our dentists recommend removing.
Is it a wisdom tooth or something else?
Pain at the back of the jaw can also come from a cracked molar, a large cavity in the second molar, jaw joint strain, or an ear problem. The exam and X-ray sort that out quickly, which is why we look before we treat.