Wisdom Tooth Extraction in Dublin

Wisdom teeth are the last adult molars and often emerge when there is limited room at the back of the jaw. A tooth may remain completely beneath the gum, emerge only partly, or grow at an angle against the tooth in front. A partly erupted tooth can leave a flap of gum where food and bacteria collect. Inflammation or infection around this area is called pericoronitis and can cause pain, swelling, a bad taste and difficulty opening the mouth.

An impacted or awkwardly positioned wisdom tooth can be difficult to clean. Decay or gum disease may develop around it, and pressure or trapped plaque can contribute to decay or loss of bone on the second molar immediately in front. Wisdom teeth are also discussed in relation to crowding, but crowding alone does not mean that removal will be beneficial; tooth position, symptoms and the health of neighbouring teeth need to be considered.

A healthy, symptom-free wisdom tooth with no disease may be left in place and monitored at routine dental visits. Preventive removal is not appropriate for everyone. Extraction is more likely to be advised for repeated pericoronitis, unrestorable decay, damage to the adjacent tooth, certain cystic changes or another defined problem. The benefits of removal must be weighed against the difficulty and risks in each individual case.

Assessment starts with the history of pain, swelling, infection and previous treatment, followed by examination of the wisdom tooth, surrounding gum and tooth in front. Please mention medical conditions, allergies and all medicines, particularly anticoagulants or antiplatelet medicines. The first dental consultation is free, and an examination under PRSI is also free. If removal is not currently justified, Dr. Aliwi may recommend cleaning advice, treatment of an acute problem and review rather than extraction.

An OPG is a panoramic X-ray showing the teeth, jaws and surrounding structures and costs €70. It helps show whether the tooth is upright, angled or deeply impacted, the shape of its roots and whether the adjacent molar is affected. Not every patient needs additional three-dimensional imaging.

For some lower wisdom teeth, the OPG suggests that the roots lie close to the inferior alveolar nerve, which supplies feeling to the lower lip and chin. A CBCT 3D scan, costing €150, may then be advised to show this relationship in greater detail and support treatment planning. Imaging reduces uncertainty but cannot remove all risk. If anatomy makes extraction unusually complex, the safest plan may include referral to an appropriate specialist.

Wisdom tooth extraction is normally carried out using local anaesthetic to numb the tooth and surrounding tissues. You may feel firm pressure and movement, but sharp pain should not be accepted; tell the dentist if you feel pain so that more anaesthetic can be considered. A simple extraction is possible when enough of the tooth is visible and it can be loosened and removed through the socket without opening the gum.

A surgical extraction is needed when a tooth is partly or fully covered by gum or bone, has difficult roots, or cannot be removed safely as one piece. The dentist makes a small opening in the gum, may remove a limited amount of surrounding bone and may divide the tooth into sections before removal. The area is cleaned and stitches may be placed. Routine extraction costs €150 – €200 and surgical extraction costs €200 – €350; wisdom-tooth-specific prices are €250 – €350 for an upper tooth and €350 – €600 for a lower tooth. The applicable price is confirmed after assessment.

Lower wisdom teeth commonly cost more because they are more often impacted in dense jaw bone and can lie near the inferior alveolar or lingual nerves, making planning and removal more involved. Upper teeth may be nearer the maxillary sinus but are often more accessible. Complexity varies, however, so the X-ray and examination—not simply whether the tooth is upper or lower—determine the planned technique.

On day one, bite on the gauze as instructed and expect some blood-stained saliva. Rest, keep your head raised and use only pain relief recommended for you. Choose cool or lukewarm soft food and chew away from the socket. Do not rinse or spit forcefully on the day of extraction, as this can disturb the blood clot. Do not smoke or vape, drink through a straw, take alcohol, or undertake strenuous exercise.

Swelling and jaw stiffness often increase over days two and three before beginning to settle; bruising can also appear. From the day after treatment, clean the other teeth carefully and follow the dentist's instructions for gentle salt-water rinsing or any prescribed mouthwash, without vigorous swishing. Continue soft foods, drink normally from a cup and avoid food fragments entering the socket. Take prescribed or advised medicines exactly as directed and do not take antibiotics unless they have been prescribed.

By days four to seven, discomfort and swelling should generally be moving in the right direction, although surgical lower-tooth sites can take longer to feel comfortable. Gradually return to ordinary food and activity as tolerated, while keeping the area clean. Stitches may dissolve or may need removal depending on the material used. Contact the clinic if pain is worsening rather than improving, bleeding persists despite firm pressure, or you are unsure about healing.

Pain, swelling, bruising, jaw stiffness and minor bleeding are expected possibilities after wisdom tooth removal. Other risks include infection, delayed healing, damage to a neighbouring tooth or filling, and a small opening into the sinus after some upper wisdom tooth extractions. Dry socket occurs when the protective clot is lost or breaks down; it usually causes strong, throbbing pain a few days after extraction, often with an unpleasant taste or smell, and needs dental review and local care.

Removal of a lower wisdom tooth can disturb the inferior alveolar nerve or lingual nerve. This may cause altered, reduced or tingling sensation in the lower lip, chin or tongue, and occasionally altered taste. The change is usually temporary when it occurs, but it can rarely be long-lasting or permanent. The estimated risk depends on the roots' position and is discussed using the examination and imaging findings before consent.

Seek prompt dental advice for pain or swelling that becomes markedly worse after initial improvement, fever, pus, a foul taste, persistent numbness or difficulty opening the mouth. Heavy bleeding that does not settle with sustained firm pressure, rapidly increasing swelling, trouble swallowing or breathing, or feeling acutely unwell requires urgent medical assessment; breathing or swallowing difficulty should be treated as an emergency.