What's involved

Not all wisdom teeth need to come out — many erupt normally and cause no issues. Removal is generally recommended when a wisdom tooth is impacted (stuck under the gum or bone), causing crowding or damage to neighbouring teeth, repeatedly infected, or associated with decay or a cyst.

Straightforward extractions, where the tooth has erupted with no complications, can often be completed under local anaesthetic in a single short appointment. More complex cases — where the tooth is impacted or the roots are close to the nerve — may be better suited to sedation or general anaesthesia, particularly for patients with dental anxiety or multiple teeth being removed at once. We discuss the right option for your situation at consultation.

Is it painful, and how long is recovery?

The extraction itself isn't painful, since the area is fully numbed with local anaesthetic or you're sedated/asleep, depending on the option chosen. Some soreness, swelling and mild bruising in the days afterward is normal and managed with pain relief. Most patients return to normal activity within a few days, with full healing of the extraction site over several weeks.

Am I a candidate?

Most patients considering wisdom tooth removal are, though suitability for a same-day in-chair procedure versus sedation or general anaesthesia depends on the complexity of the extraction and your medical history. A consultation with imaging (including a 3D bone scan where needed) determines the right approach for you.