Wisdom Teeth Removal in Westchester

If your wisdom teeth hurt, are coming in sideways, or keep getting infected, you do not have to wait for a referral across town. At PhD Dental’s Westchester office on La Tijera Boulevard, our oral surgeon, Dr. Hassan Haidar, sees patients on scheduled days — and he is Medi-Cal-contracted. We accept Medi-Cal. We accept Denti-Cal. Walk-ins are welcome at our Westchester office, and we work to fit urgent cases in. Start 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 we will tell you exactly what your wisdom teeth need and what happens next.

Who takes Medi-Cal for wisdom teeth in Westchester?

We do — right here in Westchester. PhD Dental accepts Medi-Cal and Denti-Cal, and our oral surgeon, Dr. Haidar, is Medi-Cal-contracted. That matters because many Medi-Cal patients who need a tooth removed get sent to an outside office and wait weeks for an appointment. Here, the oral surgeon comes to our Westchester office on scheduled days, so your evaluation, your x-rays, and your surgery are coordinated by one practice. If you have Medi-Cal and a wisdom tooth problem, call our Westchester office or walk in — we can start your case here.

Are wisdom teeth covered by Medi-Cal?

Medi-Cal may cover wisdom tooth removal when it is medically necessary — for example, when a tooth is impacted, infected, damaging the tooth next to it, or causing repeated pain and swelling. Coverage is decided case by case, and many cases need pre-authorization before the surgery can be scheduled. That is why the honest answer is: come in for the exam and x-rays first. We document your case, submit what your plan requires, and tell you what is approved before treatment begins — you will not be surprised by a bill for a procedure your plan has not decided on. PhD Dental is in network with Delta Dental at all eight offices. We also accept many PPO plans: 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. Please note we do not accept any HMO plans at this time.

Can I walk in with wisdom tooth pain in Westchester?

Yes. Walk-ins are welcome at our Westchester office, and wisdom tooth pain is one of the most common reasons people walk in. Pain, swelling, a bad taste from an infected tooth, or a jaw that will not open all the way are signs the tooth needs to be looked at now, not next month. Come in and we will examine the tooth, take x-rays, and tell you the same day what it needs — which may be treatment of the infection first, or scheduling the removal with Dr. Haidar on one of his scheduled days. Our Westchester office is open Monday through Friday; if a wisdom tooth problem hits on a Saturday, our Inglewood office is open Saturdays, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM.

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

It depends on the tooth. A wisdom tooth that has come in straight and sits clear of the nerve can sometimes be removed by a general dentist. A tooth that is impacted — trapped under the gum or bone — angled toward its neighbor, or close to the nerve in the jaw is surgical, and that is oral surgeon work. The exam and x-rays show which kind you have. At our Westchester office you do not have to guess or get referred out: our dentists evaluate you first, and if your case is surgical, Dr. Haidar performs it here on his scheduled days. One practice handles the whole case, from the first x-ray to the follow-up.

What does oral and maxillofacial surgery cover besides wisdom teeth?

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the surgical side of dentistry — procedures on the teeth, gums, and jaws that go beyond a simple extraction. Beyond wisdom teeth, the most common reason patients see Dr. Haidar is surgical extraction: teeth that cannot be saved, teeth broken down below the gumline, infected teeth that have to come out completely, and other teeth that cannot be removed with a simple extraction. If a tooth is failing and you are weighing removal against saving it, the evaluation will lay 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 has to approve the surgery before it happens. The steps are simple, but they take time:

• 1. Exam and full x-rays — $69 as a package. This is the starting point for every wisdom teeth case, and the x-rays are what the plan reviews.
• 2. We document and submit. Our Westchester team sends your x-rays and the clinical findings to your plan and requests authorization for the removal. Pre-authorizations are submitted in-house, electronically — you do not have to file anything with the plan yourself.
• 3. The plan decides. The wait is typically about 2 to 4 weeks, and the plan may ask for more information. We follow up on your case and tell you as soon as there is a decision.
• 4. We schedule the surgery with Dr. Haidar at our Westchester office on one of his scheduled days.

Because step 3 is outside everyone’s control, starting early is the single best thing you can do — especially if you are aiming for a school break or time off work. Patients who start in November are the ones whose approvals are in hand when winter break arrives. Do not wait until the week you want the surgery to start the paperwork.

Wisdom teeth care for Westchester and the communities around us

Our Westchester office is on La Tijera Boulevard, and patients come to us for wisdom teeth care from across the west side of Greater Los Angeles — Ladera Heights, Lennox, Del Aire, Playa Vista, Playa del Rey, Marina del Rey, Venice, Culver City, Mar Vista, Palms, Hawthorne, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, and Santa Monica. Because Dr. Haidar sees oral surgery patients on scheduled days, we plan each stage with you in advance, so visits fit around work and school.

Common questions about wisdom teeth in Westchester

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

Not always. Some people need one removed, some need all four. Your x-rays show the position of each tooth and whether it is threatening the tooth next to it. Dr. Haidar will recommend what each tooth needs, and you decide with the full picture in front of you.

What if I am nervous about oral surgery?

Our team is gentle and patient, and we explain each step before we start. Tell us when you book. 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.

Can I get my wisdom teeth out during winter break?

Yes — that is one of the smartest times to do it, because recovery happens at home with no school missed. The key is to start early: come in for the exam and x-rays now so any pre-authorization is approved before the break starts.

How do I start?

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

Book a wisdom teeth consultation in Westchester

Dr. Haidar sees patients at our Westchester office on scheduled days. Call the office 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.

• PhD Dental Westchester: 6907 La Tijera Blvd, Suite A, Los Angeles, CA 90045
• Call: (310) 893-6304
• Book online: Book an appointment
• Hours: Monday–Friday 9:30 AM–6:30 PM, Saturday and Sunday closed.