Wisdom Tooth Pain: When to Wait, When to Act
Not every wisdom tooth needs to come out — but some do. How to tell the difference, what removal involves, and when pain means you should be seen the same day.
Wisdom teeth — the third molars that arrive in your late teens or twenties — are the most commonly extracted teeth in the UK. But 'commonly' doesn't mean 'always'. A wisdom tooth that has erupted fully, sits in a cleanable position and isn't damaging its neighbour can often stay exactly where it is.
When a wisdom tooth becomes a problem
Trouble usually starts when a tooth is impacted — angled against the neighbouring molar or trapped partly under the gum. A flap of gum over a partly erupted tooth traps food and bacteria, causing pericoronitis: soreness, swelling and a bad taste that flares up repeatedly.
Signs you should book promptly include pain on biting at the back of the mouth, swollen or bleeding gum behind the last molar, jaw stiffness, and repeated infections in the same spot. Swelling of the face or difficulty swallowing needs same-day attention — call us straight away.
What removal actually involves
After an examination and X-ray to see the roots and their relationship to nearby structures, the tooth is removed under local anaesthetic. A straightforward upper wisdom tooth can take minutes; a surgical extraction of an impacted lower tooth takes longer and may need a small incision and stitches.
You'll leave with clear written aftercare instructions. Most people are back to normal routines within a few days; we always plan the appointment so you have time to rest afterwards, and we review healing where clinically needed.
Costs and next steps
At our Wimpole Street practice, surgical wisdom tooth extraction is from £650, always quoted in a written plan after examination — the X-ray tells us how complex the removal is likely to be, so your quote is confirmed in writing before treatment begins.
If you've had more than one flare-up around the same tooth, don't keep riding it out with painkillers: each infection tends to return, and planned removal is far more pleasant than an emergency one.
This article is general information, not personal clinical advice. For a diagnosis and a plan tailored to you, book a consultation with a GDC-registered dentist.
Written by Dr Ayman Mukhtar · reviewed by Dr Ayman Mukhtar, GDC 302583
This article is general information, not personal clinical advice. For a diagnosis and a plan tailored to you, book a consultation with a GDC-registered dentist.
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