For most people, wisdom teeth arrive late and rarely fit the way nature intended. At Kentfield Dental, Dr. Soroush Ghaffarpour ("Dr. G") removes impacted and problematic third molars in-house — so Marin patients don't have to be referred out to a stranger across the county. Every case starts with a low-dose 3D scan that shows us exactly where each root sits relative to the nerve, so we can plan a quiet, comfortable visit from the very first step, right here in our Kentfield office.
What are wisdom teeth — and why do they so often need to come out?
Wisdom teeth are your third molars, the last four teeth at the very back of your mouth. They usually try to come in between the late teens and mid-twenties, long after the rest of your jaw has finished growing. By then there's often simply no room left, so they can come in sideways, get stuck under the gum or against the neighboring molar ("impacted"), or only partly break through.
That's where trouble can start. A partly erupted or impacted wisdom tooth is hard to keep clean, which can lead to decay, gum infection, pressure on the molar in front of it, cysts, and recurring pain or swelling. Not every wisdom tooth has to go — some come in straight and healthy and can stay. But when one is impacted or causing problems, removing it is often the most conservative way to protect the healthy teeth around it. A quick exam and a 3D scan tell us which situation you're in, so nothing is left to guesswork.
How we remove wisdom teeth at our Kentfield office
What sets our approach apart is that the planning, imaging, and surgery all happen under one roof in Kentfield — there's no referral, no second consultation across the county, and no guessing about your anatomy. Before we touch anything, Dr. G captures a low-dose 3D image of your jaw on our Vatech Green X12 cone-beam (CBCT) scanner. A standard flat x-ray can't reliably show how close a lower wisdom tooth's roots sit to the inferior alveolar nerve, but a 3D scan can. Seeing the nerve, the sinus, and the exact shape and angle of each root in advance lets us plan a safe, efficient path and can reduce surprises during surgery.
With that map in hand, we tailor the visit to you: the right level of numbing and comfort, a gentle, tissue-respecting technique, and clear recovery instructions before you ever sit in the chair. Our aesthetics-first, conservative philosophy applies here too — we aim to do exactly what's needed, protect the surrounding bone and gum, and keep your visit as calm and predictable as possible for our Marin patients.
- Low-dose Vatech Green X12 CBCT 3D imaging to map each root relative to the nerve and sinus before surgery
- In-house oral surgery with Dr. G — no referral out, no waiting on a separate specialist consult across Marin
- Digital 3Shape intraoral scanning instead of traditional goopy molds
- Soft-tissue dental laser available to support clean, comfortable healing of the gum tissue
- Sedation and comfort options matched to your anxiety level and the complexity of the case
Why patients choose us for this
3D nerve-safety planning
Our in-house Vatech Green X12 CBCT scanner shows where each root sits relative to the nerve and sinus before we begin — the kind of low-dose 3D planning that lets us choose a safe, precise approach for your case rather than guessing from a flat x-ray.
Everything under one roof
Imaging, planning, and surgery happen right here in Kentfield with Dr. G. Most Marin patients appreciate not being referred out to an unfamiliar office across the county for their procedure.
Comfort built in, not bolted on
From the right level of numbing to sedation options for anxious patients, we plan your comfort in advance. Our calm, unhurried style is designed to make a surgical visit feel manageable.
Conservative, protective technique
A gentle, tissue-respecting approach is designed to protect the healthy molar in front, the surrounding bone, and the gum — so you can heal as smoothly as possible and keep what's worth keeping.
Clear recovery guidance
You'll know what to expect before you arrive and leave with simple, written aftercare instructions, plus a direct line to our Kentfield team if you have questions during healing.
Thoughtful timing from your scan
When removal is recommended, addressing it before roots fully form and bone hardens can often mean a more straightforward procedure — something Dr. G can help you assess from your 3D scan.
What to expect
Consultation & 3D scan
Dr. G examines the area and captures a low-dose CBCT image on our in-house Kentfield scanner. Together we look at exactly where each tooth and root sits, and decide whether removal is recommended.
A comfort plan made for you
We choose the right numbing and sedation approach for your case and your anxiety level, then review the day-of and recovery instructions so there are no surprises.
Gentle, planned removal
Using the path we mapped on your 3D scan, Dr. G removes the tooth with a careful, tissue-respecting technique designed to protect the nerve, bone, and neighboring molar.
Recovery & follow-up
You'll leave with clear written aftercare and a way to reach our team. We're here in Kentfield to check your healing and answer questions as you recover over the following days.
Your comfort matters. Comfort is planned in advance for every case: we match the right level of numbing and sedation to your anxiety level and the complexity of the surgery, and Dr. G's calm, unhurried style is geared toward helping anxious patients feel at ease.
Is wisdom tooth removal right for you?
The honest answer is that not every wisdom tooth needs to come out — and we'll tell you straight if yours can safely stay. A short exam and a 3D scan in our Kentfield office give Dr. G the full picture, and from there he'll explain your options in plain English with no pressure. If removal is the right call, we'll walk you through exactly what it involves before you decide anything.
- You have pain, swelling, or recurring infection around a back molar
- A dentist has told you a wisdom tooth is impacted or coming in sideways
- Food keeps trapping behind your last tooth, or it's hard to keep clean
- You're a teen or young adult and a checkup shows wisdom teeth crowding in
- You feel pressure or shifting at the back of your jaw
- You'd rather have it assessed early than wait for a problem to flare up
Frequently asked questions
The procedure itself is done with thorough numbing and comfort or sedation options, so most patients feel pressure rather than sharp pain during it. Some soreness and swelling afterward is normal for a few days and is usually well managed with the aftercare instructions and recommendations we provide.
Most people feel noticeably better within three to five days, with swelling and soreness easing over the first week. Recovery varies with how impacted the tooth was and how many were removed, so we'll give you a realistic timeline for your specific case.
Not always — some wisdom teeth come in straight and healthy and can stay. The concern is that an impacted or partly erupted tooth can cause problems quietly, so a quick exam and 3D scan in our Kentfield office help us tell whether yours can safely be left alone.
Safety around the nerve is exactly why we plan every lower wisdom tooth with 3D imaging. Our in-house low-dose CBCT scanner shows where the roots sit relative to the inferior alveolar nerve before we begin, which lets Dr. G choose a safe approach rather than estimating from a flat x-ray.
We remove most wisdom teeth right here in our Kentfield office. Because Dr. G performs oral surgery in-house with our own 3D imaging, many Marin patients can handle imaging, planning, and the procedure in one familiar place instead of being referred to a separate specialist across the county.
When removal is recommended, the late teens to early twenties is often an easier window, because the roots aren't yet fully formed and the bone is less dense. That said, wisdom teeth can be removed safely later in life too — your scan helps Dr. G advise on timing for your situation.
Cost depends on how many teeth are removed and how impacted they are, so we provide a clear estimate after your exam and 3D scan. As a fee-for-service practice, we'll go over the details transparently before you commit to anything. Call our Kentfield office at (415) 456-5402 to learn more.