Wisdom teeth: when removal is actually needed
Removal is indicated where a wisdom tooth causes repeated infection, unrestorable decay, damage to the neighbouring tooth or cyst formation, and is not justified preventively on a well positioned tooth that gives no symptoms.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- A simple extraction costs 60 € to 120 €.
- A surgical extraction of an impacted tooth costs 150 € to 350 €.
- Swelling peaks between 48 and 72 hours.
- Dry socket appears in a small proportion of cases, mostly in smokers.
Having them does not mean they are surplus. The indication rests on what the tooth is doing, not on the fact that it exists.
When it is indicated
Repeated pericoronitis, the infection of the gum flap partly covering the tooth. Decay that cannot be restored because of the position. Damage to the root or decay in the adjacent second molar, common with tilted partly erupted teeth. Association with a cyst. And where an orthodontic plan requires it for space reasons.
| Situation | Procedure | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Fully erupted tooth | simple extraction | 60 to 120 € |
| Partly erupted | surgical with a flap | 120 to 250 € |
| Impacted in bone | surgical with bone removal | 150 to 350 € |
| Impacted horizontally | complex surgical | 250 to 400 € |
| Three dimensional radiograph | diagnosis | 80 to 200 € |
| Conscious sedation | optional | 150 to 400 € |
| Suture removal | review | usually included |
| Limited mouth opening afterwards | 4 to 5 days | normal |
When it is not needed
A fully erupted, well positioned, functional tooth without decay does not need removing. Nor does a tooth completely impacted in bone, symptom free and with no radiographic sign of pathology, in a patient of middle age, where the risk of the procedure exceeds the risk of watching. In those cases the reasonable course is a radiographic review every 2 or 3 years.
The days afterwards
Swelling increases to 48 or 72 hours and then subsides. Cold locally in 10 minute intervals for the first 24 hours, then gentle warmth. Soft cool food for 2 or 3 days. No forceful rinsing or spitting in the first 24 hours, which displaces the clot. And no smoking for at least 72 hours, since it multiplies the risk of dry socket, the most painful complication, appearing between the third and fifth day.
Limited mouth opening for 4 or 5 days is normal and does not by itself indicate a complication.
The risks explained beforehand
On lower teeth close to the inferior alveolar canal there is a risk of altered sensation in the lip and chin, usually temporary. On upper teeth, communication with the maxillary sinus. Both must appear in the informed consent alongside the alternatives. A three dimensional radiograph at 80 € to 200 € allows that proximity to be assessed before surgery and changes the technique in a meaningful number of cases.
Frequently asked
+Do wisdom teeth always have to come out?
No. A well positioned, functional tooth without pathology does not need removing.
+What does extraction cost?
Sixty to one hundred and twenty euros if erupted, and 150 € to 350 € if impacted in bone.
+How long does swelling last?
It increases to 48 or 72 hours and then subsides progressively.
+What is dry socket?
Loss of the clot, with intense pain between the third and fifth day. Smoking multiplies the risk.
+Why is a three dimensional radiograph requested?
To assess proximity to the inferior alveolar canal or the maxillary sinus before operating.
Sources
- 1Ministerio de Sanidad, Gobierno de España (August 2026)
- 2Boletín Oficial del Estado, BOE (August 2026)