Wisdom Teeth Removal Near San Dimas, CA: Five Questions to Ask Before You Book Anywhere
San Dimas families have options. There are oral surgeons in Glendora, Covina, West Covina, and down the 57, and most of them are competent. So instead of telling you why to pick us, here are the five questions worth asking any oral surgery office before you schedule your teenager — or yourself — and our answers to each. Compare them against whoever else you're considering.
Question 1: "What will this cost, in dollars, before I come in?"
A lot of offices will say "it depends on the case" and leave it there. That's true, but only partly — wisdom teeth removal has a small number of variables, and any surgeon can quote the main ones.
Our answer: $300 per wisdom tooth. $1,200 flat for IV sedation or general anesthesia, whether it's one tooth or four. So four teeth under IV sedation is $2,400, and you knew that before picking up the phone. Extractions that aren't wisdom teeth get a written quote at the consultation.
The consultation itself is free — that includes the exam and the panoramic X-ray. You leave with a written price for your specific case before you commit to anything.
Question 2: "Who is actually doing the surgery, and what's their training?"
Some practices list several dentists and a visiting surgeon; some route you to whoever's on the schedule. Ask for a name and a résumé.
Our answer: Dr. Sean Moghadam, on every case. He graduated with honors from UCLA, completed a General Practice Residency at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, a surgical internship and clinical instructor role at The Ohio State University, and his Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. He's board-certified in oral and maxillofacial surgery. The person you meet at the consultation is the person holding the instruments.
Question 3: "Do all four really need to come out, or is that the default?"
It's a fair thing to be skeptical about. Four extractions bill more than one.
Our answer: Dr. Moghadam evaluates each tooth on the panoramic X-ray individually. Impacted, infected, decayed, or pressing into the second molar — those come out. Erupted straight with room to clean — those can stay and be re-checked. Plenty of patients leave the consultation with a recommendation to remove two, or none yet. For Bonita Unified students, the first look is usually in the early teens, and the most common recommendation at that age is "not yet, let's plan the timing."
Question 4: "What sedation do you offer, and who administers it?"
Ask whether sedation happens in the office or requires a hospital or surgery center, and whether the surgeon is the one managing it.
Our answer: Nitrous oxide, IV sedation, and general anesthesia, all administered in our Pomona office by Dr. Moghadam. One fully erupted tooth may need nothing beyond local anesthetic; four impacted ones nearly always mean IV sedation. He recommends the level that fits the procedure and the patient, and if you're anxious about a procedure that technically doesn't require sedation, you can still have it.
Question 5: "Which insurance do you take, and will you tell me my coverage before the appointment?"
The second half of that question matters more than the first. Plenty of offices "accept" a plan and then surprise you at checkout.
Our answer: We accept Medi-Cal Dental and PPO plans. Before your visit, our front office runs your benefits for both the extraction and the sedation and tells you the expected out-of-pocket figure. (A note for San Dimas specifically: you're in Los Angeles County, so IEHP — the San Bernardino County Medi-Cal plan you may see mentioned elsewhere on our site — generally doesn't apply. Your Medi-Cal dental benefit works the same way through Medi-Cal Dental directly.)
If you don't have coverage, the self-pay pricing in Question 1 is the price. In-house financing at zero interest and CareCredit are both options, and a cash payment in full earns 5% off, on top of CareCredit if you use both.
Beyond Wisdom Teeth
The same five questions apply to any extraction. We handle teeth that can't be predictably restored, teeth that have failed a root canal, and teeth removed to make room for orthodontic treatment. If a case later needs an implant or bone graft, it stays with Dr. Moghadam.
Where We Are
Kids Dental Castle & Orthodontics
1532 San Bernardino Ave #A1
Pomona, CA 91767
909-741-7052
From San Dimas: the 57 south to the 10, or Arrow Highway east through La Verne into Pomona. Our pediatric dentistry and orthodontic teams share the building, so families with kids at different stages can consolidate here. We also see oral surgery patients from La Verne, Glendora, Covina, and Walnut.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have dry socket?
Throbbing pain that gets worse two to four days after surgery instead of better, often spreading toward the ear, sometimes with a bad taste or visible bone in the socket. It isn't an infection and it responds quickly to treatment: we place a medicated dressing in the socket. Call us rather than waiting it out.
Do you charge for the consultation?
No. The consultation, exam, and X-rays are free here. Ask any other office the same question before you book — if there's a fee, you should know it before you come in, not after.
I'm in LA County. Does my Medi-Cal work at your Pomona office?
Yes. Medi-Cal Dental is a statewide benefit, and our office is in-network. IEHP is a San Bernardino County plan and won't apply to a San Dimas resident, but your Medi-Cal Dental coverage does.
Do I really need my wisdom teeth removed?
Not always, and we'll tell you when you don't. Teeth that are upright, fully erupted and easy to clean can be monitored. Removal is recommended when teeth are impacted, partly through the gum, decaying, or damaging the molar in front. Some patients need one or two out, not all four, and the quote covers only what's needed.
Do you do the sedation in-office?
Yes. Nitrous oxide, IV sedation, and general anesthesia are all administered on-site by Dr. Moghadam. No separate surgery center.
My teen is at San Dimas High. When should we get the first evaluation?
Early teens. It's a checkpoint on the X-ray, not a surgery date. Most kids evaluated then don't have anything done for a while, and knowing where the teeth are headed lets you plan removal for a break instead of an emergency.
Do I have to fast before wisdom teeth surgery?
Yes, if you're having IV sedation or general anesthesia: nothing to eat or drink for several hours beforehand. We give you the exact cutoff times in writing when we schedule. With local anesthetic only, a light meal beforehand is fine.
