Wisdom tooth: when to remove it and when not to

A wisdom tooth (the eighth tooth) erupts last, at the age of 17-25, and often there is not enough room for it in the jaw. That is why wisdom teeth grow crooked, injure neighbouring teeth and the cheek, or stay inside the bone. We explain when such a tooth really must be removed and when it can be safely kept.

When a wisdom tooth must be removed

Removal is needed if the wisdom tooth causes problems or may cause them in the future. The main indications:

• recurring pain and inflammation of the gums (pericoronitis) over the wisdom tooth;
• crooked eruption: the tooth presses on the neighbouring seventh tooth or injures the cheek;
• caries in the wisdom tooth, which is hard to treat because of poor access;
• a cyst or inflammation around the roots;
• an orthodontic treatment plan before braces or aligners.

If any of these points is about you, book a consultation with a Sorridi surgeon. The earlier a wisdom tooth is assessed, the easier the removal goes.

When a wisdom tooth can be kept

Not every wisdom tooth has to be removed. A tooth can be safely kept if it:

• has fully erupted and stands straight;
• does not press on neighbouring teeth and does not injure the cheek;
• is accessible for good hygiene at home;
• has no caries and no inflammation around it;
• can serve as a support for future prosthetics.

In that case, regular check-ups and professional hygiene are enough. If it is not the wisdom tooth but another tooth that hurts, read about first aid in the article what to do when a tooth hurts at night.

Impacted and displaced wisdom teeth

An impacted tooth stays fully or partly inside the bone and does not erupt. A displaced one erupts but in the wrong position, often tilting onto the neighbouring tooth. Such wisdom teeth are most often removed atypically: the surgeon lifts the gums, cuts the crown and removes the tooth in pieces with minimal trauma to the bone.

Before a complex removal, 3D diagnostics is mandatory: it shows the position of the roots and the location of neighbouring structures, so the procedure goes without surprises.

Is it painful and how the procedure goes

The removal is performed under local anaesthesia, so there is no pain during the procedure. A simple tooth is removed in 15-30 minutes, an atypical one in up to 60 minutes. At Sorridi everything happens in four steps:

• diagnostics: examination and a CT scan, assessment of the roots;
• anaesthesia: choosing and administering the numbing;
• removal: a gentle, atraumatic technique;
• recommendations: a short summary of socket care.

After the procedure there may be moderate discomfort for 2-3 days, which is well relieved by the painkillers prescribed by the doctor.

Recovery after removal

Healing depends on the complexity of the removal and on how you care for the socket. A few main rules:

• for the first 24 hours do not rinse your mouth and do not warm the cheek;
• apply cold for 15-20 minutes to reduce swelling;
• do not eat anything hot for the first 2-3 hours after the procedure;
• do not smoke and do not drink through a straw in the first days;
• do not touch the socket with your fingers or a toothpick - this causes dry socket.

If after 3-4 days the pain gets worse, an unpleasant smell appears or your temperature rises, contact the clinic - this may be a sign of a complication.

Wisdom tooth removal prices

Estimated prices at Sorridi:

• simple removal of the eighth tooth - from 3,000 UAH;
• atypical removal (impacted or displaced) - from 6,000 UAH;
• surgeon consultation - from 500 UAH;
• computed tomography (3D CT) - from 1,100 UAH.

The surgeon determines the exact cost after an examination and 3D diagnostics: it depends on the position of the tooth and the complexity of the roots. The full price list is on the prices page.