When Does a Wisdom Tooth Need to Come Out?
Wisdom teeth (third molars) usually appear between 17 and 25. Many cause no trouble at all. Others don't have enough room, come in at an angle or stay partly under the gum, where food and bacteria collect. Our honest-diagnosis approach applies here too: we tell you when removal is needed — and when it isn't.
Signs Your Wisdom Tooth May Be a Problem
- Pain or swelling at the back of the jaw
- Gum flap over the tooth that keeps getting infected (pericoronitis)
- Bad taste or smell from the back of the mouth
- Difficulty opening the mouth fully
- Decay in the wisdom tooth or the tooth in front of it
- Crowding or pressure on the neighbouring teeth
What Happens at Your Visit
Examination & X-ray
We look at the position of the tooth, its roots and nearby nerves and decide whether it should be removed now, monitored, or treated another way.
Your options & cost
We explain whether it is a simple or surgical removal, how long it will take, and the full cost before you decide.
Removal under local anaesthesia
The area is numbed properly. Simple removals take 10–20 minutes; surgical removals of impacted teeth take longer and may need a few stitches.
Aftercare
Written instructions, medicines if needed, and a review visit to check healing.
Aftercare Essentials
- Bite on the gauze for 30–45 minutes
- Cold compress on the cheek for the first day
- Soft, cool food for 1–2 days; no straws, smoking or forceful spitting
- Gentle warm salt-water rinses from the next day
- Call us if pain increases after day three, or bleeding does not stop
Cost depends on whether the removal is simple or surgical. See the tooth extraction cost guide, or call 7874 483 483.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Wisdom teeth that have come in straight, can be cleaned and cause no problems can stay. Removal is advised when they are impacted, repeatedly infected, decayed, or damaging the tooth next to them.
The area is numbed with local anaesthesia, so you should feel pressure but not pain during the procedure. Some soreness and swelling for a few days afterwards is normal and is managed with prescribed medicines.
A simple removal usually settles in 2–4 days. A surgical removal of an impacted tooth may take about a week, with swelling peaking around day two or three.
Cool, soft foods for the first day or two — curd, khichdi, dal, soup (not hot), mashed potatoes. Avoid using a straw, spitting forcefully and smoking, as these can dislodge the healing clot.
A painful condition that can happen a few days after an extraction if the blood clot is lost. It is uncommon when aftercare instructions are followed; if pain gets worse after day three, contact us so we can treat it.