Wisdom teeth removal
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to come through, usually in your late teens or early twenties. When there isn’t enough room, they can come through at an angle, get stuck, or cause pain, swelling and infection. Not every wisdom tooth needs to come out. It starts with a free consultation, where your dentist checks your wisdom teeth, explains whether removal is recommended, and talks you through your sedation options.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. Read about treatment risks.
What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are your third molars, the four teeth right at the back of your mouth, one in each corner.
They’re the last adult teeth to develop, usually coming through between the ages of 17 and 25. Some people have all four, some have fewer, and some never develop them at all. When they come through straight and there’s room for them, they can often be left alone.
Problems usually start when the jaw doesn’t have enough space. A wisdom tooth might only partly come through, push against the tooth in front, or stay stuck under the gum or in the bone. This is called an impacted wisdom tooth.
Your dentist may recommend removal if a wisdom tooth is
- Impacted, or coming through at an angle
- Causing repeated pain, swelling or infection
- Hard to clean, leading to decay or gum problems
- Damaging or crowding the tooth next to it
Free wisdom teeth consultation
Happy gas, oral and IV sedation
General anaesthetic at Maroochydore
Payment plans available
Available at every Avenue Dental practice
Wisdom teeth removal awake or asleep?
Every wisdom tooth removal starts with local anaesthetic to numb the area. If you’re nervous, or having more than one tooth out, you can add sedation. Your dentist assesses which option suits you, and for IV sedation and general anaesthetic, an anaesthetist assesses and monitors you too.
| Question | Local anaesthetic | Happy gas | Oral sedation | IV sedation | General anaesthetic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How you feel | Awake, with the area numb | Awake and relaxed | Drowsy and relaxed | Deeply relaxed, often with little memory of it | Asleep |
| Available at | Every practice | Sunshine Coast and Brisbane | Every region | Every region | Maroochydore |
| Who gives it | Your dentist | Your dentist | Your dentist | An anaesthetist | An anaesthetist |
| Driving home | Usually fine | Usually need someone to drive you | Someone needs to drive you | Someone needs to drive you | Someone needs to drive you |
Find out more about sedation dentistry, IV sedation and general anaesthetic. Sedation carries its own risks, which your dentist discusses with you.
Wisdom teeth removal near you
Wisdom teeth removal is available at every Avenue Dental practice across the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide. Choose your area to find your nearest practice.
Signs your wisdom teeth may be causing problems
Wisdom tooth pain often comes and goes. If you notice any of these at the back of your mouth, it’s worth booking a check-up.
Pain at the back of the jaw
An ache behind your last molar, sometimes spreading to your ear, jaw or head.
Swollen or red gums
Tender, puffy gum around a wisdom tooth that’s only partly come through.
Trouble opening your mouth
Stiffness or swelling in your jaw that makes it hard to open wide or chew.
Bad taste or bad breath
Food and bacteria can get trapped under the gum flap, which can lead to infection.
Decay in the tooth in front
A wisdom tooth pushing against your second molar can make both hard to clean.
Crowding or pressure
A feeling of pressure at the back of your mouth as the tooth tries to come through.
If you have swelling in your face or neck, a fever, or trouble swallowing, contact your dentist straight away, as this can be a sign of a spreading wisdom tooth infection.
What is an impacted wisdom tooth?
An impacted wisdom tooth can’t come through properly because it’s blocked by another tooth, the bone or the gum. An OPG X-ray shows exactly how each tooth is sitting, which helps your dentist plan the removal.
Angled forward
The tooth tilts towards the molar in front and pushes against it.
Horizontal
The tooth lies on its side in the jaw, pressing into the roots of the tooth in front.
Vertical
The tooth is in the right position but stays stuck under the gum or bone.
Partially erupted
Only part of the tooth has come through, leaving a gum flap that traps food.
Impacted wisdom teeth can take longer to remove than teeth that have fully come through, and may involve a small cut in the gum. Your dentist explains what your removal involves before you decide.
Our Wisdom Teeth Services Include
How much does wisdom teeth removal cost?
Wisdom tooth extraction at Avenue Dental starts from $250 per tooth. The cost depends on how many teeth you’re having out, whether they’re impacted, and whether you choose sedation. Your dentist gives you an itemised quote before you decide anything.
Free consultation
Find out what your removal involves
Your dentist checks your wisdom teeth, explains whether removal is recommended and gives you an itemised quote.
What affects the cost
- Number of teeth
- Impacted or fully through
- Simple or surgical removal
- Sedation or general anaesthetic
- X-rays
Interest-free payment plans
Spread the cost with Humm, Afterpay, Zip or TLC. Approval and terms are assessed by each provider.
Private health insurance
Many extras policies contribute to extractions. Ask your fund what you’re covered for, and we can claim on the spot.
Itemised quote first
You’ll know what your removal costs, including any sedation, before you go ahead.
Prices are a guide only. Your quote depends on your X-ray, the number of teeth and the type of removal. Sedation and general anaesthetic are an additional cost.
How wisdom teeth removal works
Most wisdom teeth are removed in the chair at your local Avenue Dental practice. Here’s what to expect.
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1
Free consultation
Your dentist checks your wisdom teeth, gums and the teeth around them, and talks through whether removal is recommended.
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2
X-ray and planning
An OPG X-ray shows the position of all your wisdom teeth and how close they sit to the nerve. This is used to plan your removal.
Your plan covers
- Which teeth to remove
- One visit or more
- Simple or surgical removal
- Sedation options
- Itemised costs
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3
Removal day
The area is numbed with local anaesthetic, with sedation options available. Your dentist gently loosens and removes the tooth, sometimes in a few pieces if it’s impacted. Removing one tooth can take under 30 minutes. All four may take an hour or more.
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4
Going home
You’ll get written aftercare instructions and gauze, and your dentist explains what to expect over the next few days.
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5
Review
If you need a follow-up visit, your dentist checks that everything is healing well.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. Read about treatment risks.
How wisdom teeth get stuck: the four common types of impaction
The way a wisdom tooth is angled shapes how it’s removed, how long it takes and what recovery looks like. Your X-ray shows which of these you have.
Illustration only. The tooth on the left of each diagram is the second molar; the outlined tooth is the wisdom tooth.
gum line
Angled forward
Tilted into the tooth in front (mesioangular). The most common type, and the one most likely to trap food and cause decay next door.
gum line
Upright
Sitting straight (vertical) but without room to come through fully. Sometimes it erupts on its own; sometimes it stays partly covered.
gum line
Lying on its side
Fully sideways (horizontal), pushing into the roots of the tooth in front. Usually removed in sections.
gum line
Partly through
Part of the tooth shows through the gum with a flap over the rest. Prone to repeated gum infections (pericoronitis).
Wisdom teeth removal recovery
Everyone heals differently. Recovery depends on how many teeth were removed, whether they were impacted, and how closely you follow your aftercare. Here’s a general guide.
- First day
Rest and protect the clot
Bite on gauze, rest with your head raised, and avoid rinsing, spitting or using a straw.
- Days 2–3
Swelling is usually at its peak
Use a cold pack on your cheek, take pain relief as advised, and stick to soft foods.
- Days 4–7
Starting to settle
Gentle warm salt water rinses help keep the area clean. Most people return to normal activities in this time.
- 1–2 weeks
The gum continues to heal
The socket fills in gradually, and your dentist removes any stitches if needed.
What to eat after wisdom teeth removal
Stick to soft, cool or lukewarm foods for the first few days, and chew away from the area.
- Yoghurt
- Smoothies (no straw)
- Mashed potato
- Soup, not too hot
- Scrambled eggs
- Pasta
- Ice cream
Avoid crunchy, chewy, spicy or very hot foods, alcohol and smoking while you heal.
Know the signs
What is dry socket?
Dry socket happens when the blood clot in the socket comes away too early, leaving the bone exposed. It usually shows up two to four days after removal, as pain that gets worse instead of better, sometimes with a bad taste.
Smoking, using a straw and rinsing hard in the first day can raise the risk. If you think you have dry socket, call your practice so your dentist can check and dress the area.
Why Choose Avenue Dental for Wisdom Teeth?
Having a wisdom tooth out isn’t anyone’s idea of a fun day, so our focus is on making it as straightforward and comfortable as we can. Our dentists across the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide assess each case individually, using X-rays to plan the removal properly rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. For more complex or impacted teeth, we’ll talk you through your options — including sedation like happy gas or IV sedation — and where a case calls for it, we can arrange referral to a specialist.
We’ll also be upfront about costs before anything goes ahead, and if you’d like to spread the cost, we can talk you through the payment options available. Most of all, we want you walking in knowing exactly what’s involved and walking out well looked after.
Disclaimer – Wisdom tooth removal is a surgical procedure that carries risks as well as benefits, and outcomes vary from person to person. Not everyone needs their wisdom teeth removed — suitability depends on the position of the teeth, your oral health, and your individual circumstances, all of which are assessed before any treatment is recommended. The complexity of the procedure, recovery time, and any sedation options differ from case to case. This information is general in nature and isn’t a substitute for personalised advice. Your individual circumstances, and the risks and benefits relevant to you, must be assessed and discussed with your dentist before treatment goes ahead. You can read more on our Treatment Risks page.
Flexible payment plans
At Avenue Dental on the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne, we understand that dental treatment can be difficult to fit into your budget, which is why we offer a range of different dental payment plan options.
Wisdom teeth removal FAQs
Questions people ask us most. Anything else, your dentist can answer at your free consultation.
How much does wisdom teeth removal cost in Australia?
At Avenue Dental, wisdom tooth extraction starts from $250 per tooth. The cost depends on how many teeth you’re having out, whether they’re impacted, and whether you choose sedation or general anaesthetic. Your dentist gives you an itemised quote at your consultation.
Do I need my wisdom teeth removed?
Not always. If your wisdom teeth have come through straight, are healthy and can be cleaned properly, they can often stay. Your dentist may recommend removal if a wisdom tooth is impacted, causing pain or infection, or damaging the tooth next to it.
Is wisdom teeth removal painful?
The area is numbed with local anaesthetic, so you shouldn’t feel pain during the removal, although you may feel pressure. Happy gas, oral sedation, IV sedation and general anaesthetic are also available. Some soreness and swelling afterwards is normal, and your dentist explains how to manage it.
How long does wisdom teeth removal take?
Removing one wisdom tooth can take under 30 minutes. Having all four removed, or removing impacted teeth, can take an hour or more. Your dentist gives you a time estimate at your consultation.
How long does it take to recover from wisdom teeth removal?
Swelling is usually at its worst around days two to three. Many people return to normal activities within about a week, and the gum continues to heal over the following one to two weeks. Recovery varies from person to person.
What is an impacted wisdom tooth?
An impacted wisdom tooth can’t come through properly because it’s blocked by another tooth, the jawbone or the gum. It may be angled forward, lying sideways, stuck upright under the gum, or only partly through. An OPG X-ray shows how each tooth is sitting.
Can I be asleep for wisdom teeth removal?
Yes. General anaesthetic is available at our Maroochydore practice on the Sunshine Coast, given and monitored by an anaesthetist. IV sedation, monitored by an anaesthetist, and oral sedation are available in every region, and happy gas is available on the Sunshine Coast and in Brisbane.
Can all four wisdom teeth be removed at once?
Often, yes. Many people have all four removed in one appointment, especially with IV sedation or general anaesthetic. Your dentist recommends what suits you based on your X-ray and health.
What is dry socket and how can I avoid it?
Dry socket is when the blood clot in the socket comes away too early, leaving the bone exposed and causing pain that worsens a few days after removal. To lower the risk, avoid smoking, straws, spitting and hard rinsing in the first 24 hours, and follow your aftercare instructions.
What can I eat after wisdom teeth removal?
Soft, cool or lukewarm foods such as yoghurt, smoothies (without a straw), mashed potato, soup, scrambled eggs and pasta. Avoid crunchy, chewy, spicy or very hot foods until the area has healed.
Can a wisdom tooth infection go away on its own?
An infection around a wisdom tooth may settle for a while, but it often comes back if the cause isn’t treated. See your dentist if you have pain, swelling or a bad taste, and seek urgent care if you have facial swelling, a fever or trouble swallowing.
Does private health insurance cover wisdom teeth removal?
Many extras policies contribute to wisdom tooth extractions, depending on your level of cover and waiting periods. Check with your fund about what you’re covered for. We can claim on the spot with your health fund card.
