A wisdom tooth without room to erupt properly rarely „just passes“ — more often it brings repeated infections and endangers the tooth in front of it. Surgical removal is a routine procedure under local anaesthesia, with recovery measured in days, not weeks.
At a glance
- What it is: surgical removal of a wisdom tooth — fully, partially or completely unerupted
- Indications: repeated infections, pressure on the neighbouring tooth, untreatable decay, cysts, orthodontic reasons
- Anaesthesia: local; sedation is also available
- Duration: from twenty minutes to an hour
- Recovery: swelling 2–3 days; back to work in a day or two; sutures out in a week
- Cost: depends on the tooth’s position; an estimate is given at your consultation
On this page
- When a wisdom tooth should be removed
- When it is left alone
- The procedure
- Recovery
- FAQ
- Cost
When should a wisdom tooth be removed?
Most often: repeated gum infections around a partially erupted wisdom tooth (pericoronitis), pressure on and damage to the neighbouring tooth, untreatable decay of the wisdom tooth or its neighbour, cysts around an unerupted tooth, and orthodontic plans. A tooth erupting at an angle or trapped in the bone (impacted) rarely becomes functional — but it does become a reservoir of problems.
When is a wisdom tooth left alone?
A fully erupted, healthy wisdom tooth in a correct position that can be cleaned properly does not have to be removed. The decision is based on a panoramic or 3D scan and an examination — not on a rule that „all wisdom teeth come out“.
What does the procedure look like?
The scan determines the position of the roots and their relation to the lower-jaw nerve canal — the basis of the plan. At ESTERA we perform surgical wisdom tooth removal under local anaesthesia and it is painless: the gum is opened, the tooth is sectioned if needed and removed, the site is cleaned and sutured. The more difficult cases take up to an hour. For patients with strong anxiety, dental sedation is also an option.
Recovery
First 24 hours: cold compresses from outside, soft cold food, no rinsing, no sucking through a straw and no smoking — this protects the blood clot. Swelling peaks on day two or three and subsides; most patients return to work within a day or two. Sutures are removed after a week. One warning worth knowing: if a strong, worsening pain appears after 2–3 days (so-called dry socket), call us — it is resolved quickly in the office.
Cost
The cost depends on the position and complexity (erupted, partially or fully impacted); an estimate is given at your consultation with the scan. See our dental price list.
Frequently asked questions
Does surgical wisdom tooth removal hurt?
No — the procedure is under local anaesthesia; you feel pressure, not pain. Discomfort comes afterwards and is controlled with medication.
Can two wisdom teeth be removed at once?
Often yes — especially two on the same side. The decision depends on the scan and your recovery preferences.
What is dry socket?
A painful complication in which the blood clot is lost too early; it occurs in a small percentage of cases, more often in smokers. Proper care in the first days significantly reduces the risk.
Must every impacted wisdom tooth come out?
No — a quiet, fully embedded wisdom tooth with no changes on the scan can simply be monitored with check-ups.
Book a consultation
If your wisdom tooth „announces itself“ with occasional infections, a scan and examination give a clear plan. ESTERA, Bokeljska 7, Vračar, Belgrade — +381 66 378 372.
Book a consultation: +381 66 378 372
Content prepared and medically reviewed by Dr Nenad Stanković, DDS/DMD, specialist in cosmetology, international lecturer and trainer in aesthetic medicine.