--- title: "Wisdom teeth: when do they need to come out, and does it hurt?" url: "https://sfdent.eu/en/blog/254-wisdom-teeth-when-do-they-need-to-come-out-and-does-it-hurt" language: "en" description: "When a wisdom tooth needs to come out, whether removal hurts and how long recovery takes. Warning signs and prices from SF Dent's list in Izgrev, Sofia." --- ![Wisdom teeth: when do they need to come out, and does it hurt?](https://sfdent.eu/images/q58UTrdqWLEiqHB68Q8R518qa6eaJZ29Uq9SUogQ-1050x650.webp) 4 October - Posted on: 4 October 2026 # Wisdom teeth: when do they need to come out, and does it hurt? **A wisdom tooth needs to come out when it is causing a problem or is very likely to: repeated gum infection around it, decay, damage to the tooth next to it, a cyst, or no room to come through properly. Removal is done under local anaesthetic, so it should not hurt during the procedure, and the pain and swelling afterwards usually ease within a few days.** **In short:** - A wisdom tooth that has fully come through, is healthy and is easy to clean often does not need to be removed. - The decision is made after an examination and an X-ray, not because of one bad day. - Most people are back to their usual routine the next day, and the gum heals in about 2 weeks. Below we explain when removal makes sense, how it is done, how much it hurts and what it costs. If you already have symptoms, see our page on [tooth extraction and wisdom tooth removal](https://sfdent.eu/en/services/tooth-extraction), which describes the procedure step by step. ## What is a wisdom tooth and why does it cause problems? Wisdom teeth are the third molars, the last teeth at the back of each side of the upper and lower jaw. They usually come through between the ages of 17 and 25, and some people are missing one or more of them. Because they arrive last, there is often not enough room left for them. A wisdom tooth that cannot come through is called impacted: it stays fully in the bone or under the gum. A partially impacted wisdom tooth has only partly come through. The partly erupted tooth causes the most trouble: a pocket forms between the tooth and the gum where food and bacteria collect, and a toothbrush can hardly reach it. ## When does a wisdom tooth need to be removed? A dentist recommends removal when the wisdom tooth is already causing a problem, or when the X-ray makes it clear that it will. The most common reasons are: - **Pericoronitis**: repeated inflammation of the gum around a partly erupted wisdom tooth, with pain, swelling and sometimes difficulty opening the mouth. - **Decay** in the wisdom tooth or in the second molar next to it that is hard to treat because of the tooth's position. - **Pressure on the neighbouring tooth**, which can damage its root. - **A cyst** or another change around an impacted tooth, visible on an X-ray. - **Gum disease** around the back teeth linked to how hard they are to clean. - Preparation for orthodontic or prosthetic treatment, when the treating dentist decides so. A wisdom tooth that has come through properly, meets an opposing tooth in the other jaw, has no decay and is easy to clean can usually stay. Removing a healthy tooth with no symptoms "just in case" is not required. The decision is individual and depends on the examination and the X-ray. ## How can I tell my wisdom tooth is causing a problem? Typical signs are pain at the very back of the jaw, a swollen red gum behind the last tooth, a bad taste or smell, pain when swallowing and difficulty opening the mouth. Sometimes the pain is felt in the ear or the temple. With a partly erupted wisdom tooth, symptoms often come and go. See a dentist the same day if you have a fever, if the swelling spreads to the cheek or neck, or if you find it hard to swallow or breathe. These are signs of a more serious infection and should not wait. ## Does wisdom tooth removal hurt? Removal is done under local anaesthetic. During the procedure you feel pressure and movement, but you should not feel sharp pain. If you do, tell the dentist; more anaesthetic can be given. For lower wisdom teeth a nerve block (central anaesthesia) is often used, which numbs a larger part of the jaw. When the anaesthetic wears off, usually after a few hours, pain sets in. For most patients it is controlled with ordinary painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, if you have no reason not to take them. Swelling is usually worst on the second or third day and then goes down. ## How long do removal and recovery take? Removing a wisdom tooth that has come through often takes a few minutes. An impacted wisdom tooth takes longer when the gum has to be opened, a little bone removed or the tooth divided into pieces. According to the UK's NHS, the procedure usually takes no more than 40 minutes ([NHS: Wisdom tooth removal](https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/wisdom-tooth-removal/)). Most people are back to their usual activities the next day. Discomfort usually eases after 1–2 days, and the gum can take up to 2 weeks to heal fully. If stitches were placed, the dentist will tell you whether they dissolve on their own or need to be removed at a follow-up visit. ## What should I do after the removal? - Bite on the gauze for as long as the dentist told you, so a blood clot can form. - On the first day, do not rinse hard, spit forcefully or drink through a straw. - Do not smoke or drink alcohol in the first days; both raise the risk of the wound becoming inflamed. - Do not eat until the anaesthetic wears off, then start with soft food that is not hot, and chew on the other side. - Brush your teeth as usual, but gently around the wound. Detailed advice is in our article ["Instructions After Tooth Extraction"](https://sfdent.eu/en/blog/180-instructions-after-tooth-extraction-ensuring-a-smooth-recovery), and what to eat in the first days is covered in ["What can I eat after wisdom tooth removal?"](https://sfdent.eu/en/blog/255-what-can-i-eat-after-wisdom-tooth-removal). ## When is pain after removal not normal? Pain usually gets less day by day. Contact the dentist if it gets worse after the third day, if there is a bad taste and smell from the wound, if bleeding does not stop after pressing on gauze, or if you have a fever or growing swelling. Pain that increases a few days after removal can be a sign of dry socket. In dry socket the blood clot in the wound did not form or has come out. It can be treated, but it needs an examination. ## How much does wisdom tooth removal cost? The price depends on whether the wisdom tooth has come through, partly come through or is fully in the bone. On SF Dent's price list, wisdom tooth extraction is €200.00, a semi-impacted wisdom tooth €300.00 and an impacted wisdom tooth €350.00. Anaesthesia and suture removal are separate lines. Which one applies to you is clear after an examination and an X-ray. | Service | Price | | --- | --- | | Examination | 30.00€ | | Wisdom tooth extraction | 200.00€ | | Extraction of semi-impacted wisdom tooth | 300.00€ | | Extraction of impacted wisdom tooth | 350.00€ | | Local anesthesia administration | 11.00€ | | Central (block) anesthesia administration | 16.00€ | | Suture removal | 21.00€ | Prices are from the clinic’s price list. The final cost depends on your case and is confirmed after an examination. [See the full price list](https://sfdent.eu/en/pricing) ## When should you book an appointment? If you have pain or swelling around a wisdom tooth, or a dentist has told you it is impacted, book an examination. The dentist will decide whether the tooth should come out now, whether it can be monitored, and what the procedure would involve. Read more on our page about [wisdom tooth removal at SF Dent](https://sfdent.eu/en/services/tooth-extraction). The clinic is at 22 Elemag St, Izgrev, Sofia, and is open Monday to Friday, 10:00–19:00. You can call +359 87 666 2785. ## Frequently asked questions ### At what age do wisdom teeth come through? Wisdom teeth usually come through between the ages of 17 and 25, but for some people it happens later or not at all. Some people have no bud for one or more wisdom teeth. Whether a wisdom tooth is there, and how it lies, shows on an X-ray. ### Do all wisdom teeth need to be removed? No. A wisdom tooth that has come through properly, is healthy, meets an opposing tooth and is easy to clean can usually stay. Removal is recommended when the tooth causes inflammation, decay, damage to the neighbouring tooth or a cyst. The decision is made after an examination and an X-ray. ### Can two wisdom teeth be removed at once? Sometimes, yes. The dentist may suggest removing both wisdom teeth on one side in a single visit, so you can chew on the other side. Whether that makes sense depends on the position of the teeth, your general health and how complex the removal is. It is discussed at the examination. ### How many days does it hurt after wisdom tooth removal? For most people pain is worst in the first one to three days and then gradually eases. The gum can take up to two weeks to heal fully. If the pain gets worse after the third day, or you have a fever and a bad taste, contact the dentist. ### Can I go to work the next day? Most people go back to their usual activities the next day. After a more complex removal of an impacted wisdom tooth you may need one to three days off. Avoid heavy physical effort in the first days, because it can increase bleeding and swelling. #### Read More - [What can I eat after wisdom tooth removal?](https://sfdent.eu/en/blog/255-what-can-i-eat-after-wisdom-tooth-removal) - [Instructions After Tooth Extraction: Ensuring a Smooth Recovery](https://sfdent.eu/en/blog/180-instructions-after-tooth-extraction-ensuring-a-smooth-recovery) #### Related treatments You have read about it — see how we treat it at the clinic. - [Tooth extraction and wisdom tooth removal](https://sfdent.eu/en/services/tooth-extraction) - [General dentistry](https://sfdent.eu/en/services/general-dentistry) [See all treatments](https://sfdent.eu/en/services)