Wisdom Teeth Removal in Inglewood

When wisdom teeth ache, push in sideways, or keep swelling up at the back of your jaw, you should not have to wait on a referral to a stranger across town. At PhD Dental’s Inglewood office on Crenshaw Boulevard, our oral surgeon, Dr. Hassan Haidar, sees patients on scheduled days — and he is contracted with Medi-Cal and Denti-Cal. Walk-ins are welcome, and we work urgent cases in. Everything starts with an exam and a full set of x-rays for $69 — the exam and x-rays are a package and cannot be unbundled — and from those pictures we tell you exactly what each wisdom tooth needs and what happens next. We accept Medi-Cal. We accept Denti-Cal.

Who takes Medi-Cal for wisdom teeth in Inglewood?

We do — at this office, with a contracted specialist doing the surgery. PhD Dental accepts Medi-Cal and Denti-Cal, and Dr. Haidar himself is Medi-Cal-contracted, which matters more than it might sound: Medi-Cal patients who need a tooth out are routinely sent to an outside office and wait for an appointment there. Here, the oral surgeon comes to our Inglewood office on scheduled days, so your evaluation, your x-rays, and your surgery are coordinated by one practice that already knows your case. If you have Medi-Cal and a wisdom tooth problem, call (323) 529-6856 or walk in — your case can start here.

Are wisdom teeth covered by Medi-Cal?

Medi-Cal may cover wisdom tooth removal when it is medically necessary — the everyday qualifying pictures are a tooth that is impacted, infected, crowding or damaging the tooth beside it, or causing repeated pain and swelling. Coverage is decided case by case, and many cases need the plan’s authorization before surgery can be scheduled, which is why the honest first step is the exam and x-rays: we document your case, submit what the plan requires, and tell you what is approved before treatment begins. You will not be handed a bill for a procedure your plan has not decided on. For patients with private coverage, we are in network with Delta Dental at all eight offices and accept Aetna PPO, MetLife PPO, Delta Dental PPO, Cigna PPO, Guardian PPO, UnitedHealthcare PPO, Anthem Blue Cross PPO, Blue Shield of California PPO, Humana PPO, Principal PPO, Ameritas PPO, United Concordia PPO, Sun Life PPO, Lincoln Financial PPO, Unum PPO, The Hartford PPO, Renaissance Dental PPO, Premier Access PPO, and Health Net PPO. We do not accept any HMO plans.

Can I walk in with wisdom tooth pain in Inglewood?

Yes. Walk-ins are welcome here, and wisdom tooth pain is one of the most common reasons people come through our door without an appointment. Pain at the back of the jaw, swelling, a bad taste from an infected tooth, or a jaw that will not open fully are all signs the tooth needs attention now rather than next month. Come in and we examine the tooth and take x-rays the same day, then tell you what it needs — which may be treating the infection first, or scheduling the removal with Dr. Haidar on one of his scheduled days. Two scheduling facts work in your favor at this office: we are open Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Monday through Friday we stay open until 6:30 PM.

Do I need an oral surgeon, or can a regular dentist take my wisdom teeth out?

The tooth decides. A wisdom tooth that has come through straight, sits clear of the nerve, and has room around it can sometimes be removed by a general dentist. A tooth that is impacted — trapped beneath gum or bone — angled into its neighbor, or lying close to the nerve in the jaw is a surgical case, and surgical cases are oral surgeon work. The exam and x-rays show which kind you have. At our Inglewood office you never have to guess or accept a referral elsewhere: our dentists evaluate you first, and if the case is surgical, Dr. Haidar performs it here on his scheduled days. One practice carries your case from the first x-ray to the follow-up visit.

What does oral and maxillofacial surgery cover besides wisdom teeth?

It is the surgical branch of dentistry — care for the teeth, gums, and jaws that goes beyond a simple extraction. Beyond wisdom teeth, the most common reason Inglewood patients see Dr. Haidar is the surgical extraction: teeth that cannot be saved, teeth broken down below the gumline, infected teeth that must come out completely rather than in pieces left behind, and other teeth that cannot be taken out with a straightforward extraction. If a tooth of yours is failing and you are weighing removal against saving it, the evaluation lays out both paths honestly — including what replacing the tooth afterward would involve. Tell us what is going on and we will tell you whether it is a surgical case.

How does the pre-authorization process work — and why should I start early?

For many Medi-Cal and insurance cases, the plan must approve the surgery before it happens. The steps are simple, but they take time:

• 1. Exam and full x-rays — $69 as a package. Every wisdom teeth case starts here, and the x-rays are what the plan reviews.
• 2. We document and submit. Our Inglewood team sends your x-rays and the clinical findings to your plan and requests authorization for the removal. Submissions are handled in-house and electronically — you do not file anything with the plan yourself.
• 3. The plan decides. The plan may approve the request or ask for more information, and our team follows up on your case and tells you as soon as there is a decision.
• 4. We schedule the surgery with Dr. Haidar at our Inglewood office on one of his scheduled days.

Because step 3 sits outside everyone’s control, starting early is the single best move you can make — above all if you are aiming at a school break or time off work. Patients who start in November are the ones holding approvals when winter break arrives. Do not wait until the week you want the surgery to begin the paperwork.

Wisdom teeth care for Inglewood and the communities around us

Our Inglewood office is on Crenshaw Boulevard, and patients come to us for wisdom teeth care from across this part of Greater Los Angeles. Our closest neighbors — Lennox, Hawthorne, West Athens, Westmont, Del Aire, and Lawndale — are just minutes away, and we also see patients from Alondra Park, Gardena, Hyde Park, View Park-Windsor Hills, and Ladera Heights. From the South Bay and the beach cities, patients travel in from El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Playa Vista, Playa del Rey, Marina del Rey, and Culver City, and from the east we welcome patients from Watts and Carson. Because Dr. Haidar sees oral surgery patients on scheduled days, we plan each stage with you in advance — and with hours until 6:30 PM Monday through Friday plus Saturday hours, most patients can fit those visits around work and school.

Common questions about wisdom teeth in Inglewood

Do all four of my wisdom teeth have to come out?

Not always. Some people need a single tooth removed; others need all four. Your x-rays show the position of each tooth and whether it threatens the tooth beside it. Dr. Haidar recommends what each tooth individually needs, and you decide with the full picture in front of you.

What if I am nervous about oral surgery?

Tell us when you book — our team is gentle and patient, and we explain each step before we start. Nitrous oxide is offered at select offices, upon request. We can also provide a calming medication for the night before and the morning of your appointment — if you take it, you must have someone drive you to the office and home. And to keep expectations straight: PhD Dental does not offer IV sedation.

Can I get my wisdom teeth out during winter break?

Yes — it is one of the smartest times for it, because recovery happens at home with no school missed. The key is starting early: come in for the exam and x-rays now, so any authorization the plan requires is decided before the break begins.

How do I start?

With an exam and a full set of x-rays — $69 without insurance, a package that cannot be unbundled. You leave knowing what your wisdom teeth need, whether your case is surgical, and what happens next. Walk-ins are welcome at our Inglewood office.

Book a wisdom teeth consultation in Inglewood

Dr. Haidar sees patients at our Inglewood office on scheduled days. Call (323) 529-6856 to start with the $69 exam and x-rays, book online anytime, or walk in — if the surgeon is not at our office on the day you need, we will book you at the nearest office and coordinate your care. Our address is 11344 Crenshaw Blvd, Unit A, Inglewood, CA 90303, and our hours are Monday–Friday 9:30 AM–6:30 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM, Sunday closed.

• PhD Dental Inglewood: 11344 Crenshaw Blvd Unit A, Inglewood, CA 90303
• Call: (323) 529-6856
• Book online: Book an appointment
• Hours: Monday–Friday 9:30 AM–6:30 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM, Sunday closed. We are open on Saturdays.