Assessment · surgical care
Wisdom Teeth, Without the Drama
Even a practice devoted to keeping teeth knows some wisdom teeth cause more trouble than they're worth. Pain, infection, decay traps and pressure on neighbours. We assess honestly, remove gently when needed, and look after you afterwards.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Sofia Monter, general dentist · Reviewed October 2026
At a Glance
- Healthy and cleanable: often left in place and monitored.
- When removal makes sense: repeated infections, decay, damage to the neighbouring tooth or other problems.
- Crowding: not a good reason for removal on its own.
- Recovery: usually a few days to a week of swelling and tenderness.
- Risks: explained before you decide, with options for teeth close to the nerve.
Signs Your Wisdom Teeth Need a Look
- Pain or pressure at the back. Especially if it comes and goes.
- Swollen or bleeding gum flap. Often with a bad taste or bad breath.
- Jaw stiffness. Difficulty opening wide.
- Food trapping. Behind or between the back teeth.
- Repeated infections. Flare-ups that keep returning.
Do Healthy Wisdom Teeth Need to Come Out?
Not necessarily. A Cochrane review found there is not enough evidence to support or refute routinely removing impacted wisdom teeth that have no symptoms or disease, and that decisions should weigh the individual patient's situation and preferences (Ghaeminia et al., 2020).
So we do not remove healthy, cleanable wisdom teeth as a matter of routine. We monitor them with X-rays at check-ups, and act if problems start, such as decay, infection or damage to the tooth in front. The same review noted very low-certainty evidence that keeping impacted wisdom teeth may raise the risk of gum disease around the neighbouring molar, which is one of the things we watch for.
Will Wisdom Teeth Crowd My Front Teeth?
It is one of the most common reasons people ask about removal, but the research does not support it. A systematic review found most studies do not show a cause-and-effect link between wisdom teeth and crowding of the front teeth, and concluded removal to prevent crowding or relapse after orthodontics is not justified (Zawawi & Melis, 2014).
Teeth do drift with age, with or without wisdom teeth. What keeps teeth straight after orthodontic treatment is long-term retainer wear.
Our Approach
- Honest triage. Plenty of wisdom teeth can stay. If they are healthy, cleanable and not damaging their neighbours, we leave them in peace and monitor.
- Gentle removal when needed. Careful local anaesthesia, calm pacing and clear aftercare, with referral to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for teeth that are deeply impacted, close to the nerve, or need hospital-level care.
- Recovery support. Written aftercare, the right pain-relief plan and a check-in so healing stays on track.
Risks, Explained Plainly
Most people have swelling, bruising and tenderness for a few days. Less commonly, the socket becomes painful a few days later because the healing clot is lost (a dry socket), or the area becomes infected; both are treatable.
The roots of lower wisdom teeth can sit close to the nerve that supplies feeling to the lower lip, chin and tongue. Temporary numbness after removal happens in a small minority of people, and permanent numbness is rare. When X-rays show a tooth very close to the nerve, we discuss further imaging, referral, and options such as removing only the crown of the tooth and leaving the roots in place (coronectomy), which a surgeon may recommend to lower that risk.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. We explain yours, and the alternatives including monitoring, before you decide.
Recovery Tips
Rest for the first day, keep your head raised, use cold packs for swelling, and eat soft food. From the next day, rinse gently with warm salty water after meals. Avoid smoking and drinking through a straw while the socket heals. Call us if pain is getting worse after the third day, rather than better.
Good to know
Common Questions
Should I have my wisdom teeth out before braces?
Not just because of braces. Research does not support removing wisdom teeth to prevent crowding. We assess each case on its own merits.
What is a dry socket?
A painful socket that develops a few days after removal when the healing clot is lost. It is treatable, and avoiding smoking and straws in the first days helps prevent it.
How long is recovery?
Most people feel back to normal within a few days to a week. Lower teeth and more difficult removals can take longer.
Will I be asleep?
Most removals here use local anaesthetic. If a tooth is deeply impacted, close to the nerve, or you would prefer to be asleep, we refer you to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
Get an Honest Answer About Your Wisdom Teeth
The research behind this page
- Ghaeminia H, et al. Surgical removal versus retention for the management of asymptomatic disease-free impacted wisdom teeth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020.
- Zawawi KH, Melis M. The role of mandibular third molars on lower anterior teeth crowding and relapse after orthodontic treatment: a systematic review. The Scientific World Journal, 2014.
Inline Smiles Dental & Orthodontics. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. This page is general information only, not a diagnosis or a personal treatment recommendation. Research findings describe groups, and individual results vary; suitability for any treatment is assessed individually.