Having an impacted wisdom tooth does not necessarily mean that you need to have it removed. However, if it is causing persistent pain, recurring infections or problems with the surrounding teeth and gums, your dentist may recommend wisdom tooth surgery.
The thought of having wisdom tooth surgery can understandably feel a little daunting, especially if you are unsure about what the procedure involves or how long recovery will take. Knowing what to expect beforehand can help you feel more prepared and confident about your treatment.
In this guide, we take you through the entire impacted wisdom tooth surgery journey, from your initial consultation and assessment to the surgery itself, recovery and follow-up care.
Preparing for your impacted wisdom tooth consultation is an important step in ensuring that your appointment runs smoothly and that you make the most of your time with the dentist. While no extensive preparation is required, bringing the key information helps your dentist better understand your health and provide more personalised recommendations.
Before your appointment, we suggest the following:
Once you are comfortably settled, your holistic consultation begins with a conversation, not a clinical examination. You may be experiencing pain, swelling or recurring infections around your wisdom tooth or perhaps an impacted wisdom tooth was discovered during a routine dental examination.
Your dentist may ask about the symptoms you have noticed, when they started and whether they have happened before. They will also review your medical history, current medications and any previous problems with your wisdom teeth.
Most importantly, this is your opportunity to share any questions or concerns that you might have. Your dentist takes the time to understand your concerns and goals before deciding whether removing the impacted wisdom tooth will benefit your oral health.
Following your consultation, your dentist will conduct a comprehensive dental examination to assess whether your wisdom tooth requires removal.
During the examination, your dentist may assess:
This assessment helps your dentist understand the overall condition of your oral health and determine whether further investigations are required.
Digital imaging is particularly important in helping your dentist decide whether impacted wisdom tooth surgery is necessary and how it can be done safely. This is because a visual examination only tells your dentist part of the story. An X-ray and 3D imaging help your dentist see what is happening beneath the gums and within the jawbone, providing a clearer picture of the impacted wisdom tooth and the surrounding structures.
A dental X-ray may be taken to assess:
In some cases, your dentist may recommend a 3D Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scan for a more detailed view of the tooth and surrounding structures. This may be useful when a lower wisdom tooth appears to be positioned close to a nerve. However, not every patient will need a CBCT scan, and it will only be recommended if necessary for treatment planning.
These images, together with the findings from the clinical examination, give your dentist a clearer understanding of the complexity of the impaction, helping them assess potential risks and determine the most appropriate treatment plan for your needs.
Once your consultation and assessment are complete, your dentist will review all the information collected and determine whether removing the impacted wisdom tooth is the most appropriate option for you.
Not every impacted wisdom tooth needs to be removed. If it is healthy and is not causing problems, your dentist may recommend monitoring it instead.
When deciding if the tooth should be removed, your dentist will evaluate the following factors:
Your dentist will review the findings with you and explain the benefits and limitations of the available options. Deciding on treatment is not a one-way conversation, so this is also an opportunity for you to ask questions and share any concerns with your dental team.
If your wisdom tooth requires removal, that does not automatically mean that you need surgery. The method of removal ultimately depends on the tooth’s position and whether it has fully emerged through the gums.
A simple extraction may suffice if the wisdom tooth has fully erupted and is easily accessed. On the other hand, surgery may be necessary if the tooth is partially or completely impacted beneath the gums or jawbone.
Depending on the findings, your dentist will recommend the most appropriate approach for you.
Once you and your dentist have decided to proceed with treatment, your surgery date will be scheduled. Your dentist explains what will happen during the procedure, the expected recovery period, potential risks, aftercare and the estimated costs.
Depending on your treatment plan, you may be advised to:
If your wisdom tooth requires surgical removal, you may be able to use MediSave to help cover part of the cost. Your dental team will explain the expected costs and relevant MediSave claims before you proceed with treatment.
The steps involved in the wisdom tooth surgery depend on the position and complexity of the impacted tooth. Before your procedure, your dentist will walk you through what to expect.
Before the procedure begins, local anaesthesia will be applied to numb the treatment site and keep you comfortable. Your dentist will ensure that the area is adequately numb before starting the treatment. If you are experiencing any discomfort at this point, inform the dental team.
If your wisdom tooth is underneath the gum, a small incision may be made to access it. Depending on how deeply the tooth is impacted, a small amount of the surrounding bone may also have to be carefully removed.
Once the tooth can be accessed, your dentist will carefully remove it. In some cases, the wisdom tooth can be removed in one piece. If this is not possible, it may be cut into smaller pieces and removed in sections. The exact approach depends on various factors, such as the position and angle of the tooth, its roots and the surrounding structures.
After the wisdom tooth has been successfully removed, your dentist will clean the surgical site. Stitches may be used to close the gum and support healing. Gauze is then placed over the area to help with the initial bleeding and allow a blood clot to form.
Immediately after the procedure, you may notice some tenderness, swelling or mild discomfort. This is normal, and the symptoms usually settle within the next few days. The extent of your recovery depends on the complexity of the removal.
During the first 24 hours:
Over the next few days, you may experience:
Contact the clinic immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:
After your impacted wisdom tooth removal, you will return to the clinic for a review appointment approximately one to two weeks later. During this visit, your dentist will check if the surgical site and surrounding gums are healing, assess any swelling or pain, check for signs of infection and remove any non-dissolvable stitches that were used. If you have any concerns around your recovery, this would be a good time to bring them up.
Wisdom tooth surgery is not necessarily the end of your oral health journey. Once the area has healed, your dentist will continue to monitor the surrounding gums, bone and neighbouring teeth, as well as any other wisdom teeth that remain.
At kohe™ Dental, we take the time to understand your symptoms and carefully assess the position of your impacted wisdom tooth before recommending removal. Not every impacted wisdom tooth requires surgery, and your treatment plan will be tailored to your individual needs and long-term oral health.
If you are experiencing pain, swelling or recurring problems around a wisdom tooth, or have been told that you have an impacted wisdom tooth, book a holistic consultation with our team to have it properly assessed and discuss the treatment options available to you.