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Wisdom tooth removal - the nerve mapped before the tooth.

Removal of impacted or symptomatic third molars by a consultant oral surgeon. CBCT scanning where a root sits on the nerve, coronectomy as an alternative to full extraction, and honest numbers on nerve, dry socket and swelling.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What wisdom tooth removal costs privately in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our partner units.

In short

£1,400–£2,600, home the same visit.

Procedure Indicative range
Single upper wisdom tooth (LA) £220–£450
Single lower wisdom tooth (LA) £380–£850
Bilateral upper wisdom teeth (LA) £450–£850
Bilateral lower wisdom teeth (LA) £720–£1,600
All four wisdom teeth (LA + sedation) £1,850–£3,600
Coronectomy per lower tooth £520–£1,050
CBCT (small volume) £150–£280

Prices vary by hospital, by the consultant, and by complexity.

The problem

Wisdom teeth removal is the operation where the imaging matters most.

General dental practice does simple wisdom teeth well but often skips the CBCT, misses the coronectomy option, and quotes the nerve risk in vague adjectives.

  • Do the wisdom teeth need to come out?

    NICE guidance is against prophylactic removal of symptom-free teeth. Recurrent pericoronitis, caries and orthodontic need are the honest indications. We say so on your imaging.

  • CBCT changes the plan

    When a lower third molar root sits on the inferior alveolar nerve canal, a plain OPG cannot tell you if extraction is safe. CBCT does - and often opens the coronectomy option.

  • Coronectomy is a real alternative

    Removing the crown and leaving the roots in place preserves the nerve. For high-risk cases the numbness rate drops from around 5–10 percent to under 1 percent. Rarely offered - we offer it.

When it helps

When wisdom tooth removal is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means treating something else first.

  • Recurrent pericoronitis

    Repeated infection of the gum around a partially erupted wisdom tooth - the commonest indication for removal.

  • Caries in the wisdom tooth or adjacent second molar

    A wisdom tooth in a position that traps plaque and rots the second molar - extraction to save the second molar.

  • Cyst or tumour associated with the tooth

    A dentigerous cyst or odontogenic tumour on OPG or CBCT - removal of the tooth and the lesion together.

  • Impacted tooth blocking orthodontic movement

    An impacted third molar interfering with planned orthodontic treatment - removal in coordination with the orthodontist.

  • Pre-radiotherapy or pre-bisphosphonate dental clearance

    Wisdom teeth with poor prognosis removed before head-and-neck radiotherapy or IV bisphosphonate therapy.

  • Pain traceable to the wisdom tooth

    Persistent jaw or throat pain reliably traced to the third molar after other causes are excluded.

  • Root sitting on the inferior alveolar nerve

    Not always an indication for removal - but if extraction is indicated for other reasons, this is where CBCT and coronectomy are considered.

  • Red flag: spreading facial swelling with fever

    A wisdom tooth infection with facial swelling, difficulty swallowing or breathing is an emergency - same-day A&E, not a routine clinic booking.

Approach options

The tooth, the roots and the nerve decide the operation.

What each option involves - anaesthesia, technique, and whether coronectomy replaces full extraction for high-risk cases.

  • Simple upper wisdom tooth extraction

    Usually forceps only, five to fifteen minutes each. Minimal swelling and quick recovery.

  • Surgical lower wisdom tooth extraction

    A small gum flap, bone removal, tooth sectioning and dissolving sutures. Twenty to sixty minutes per tooth.

  • Bilateral or four-tooth extraction in one visit

    Efficient for young patients - usually with IV sedation. Recovery time is the same as staged; total downtime is halved.

  • Coronectomy of a lower third molar

    The crown is removed and the roots left in place - reserved for cases where the roots contact the inferior alveolar nerve. Nerve injury rate drops from 5–10 percent to under 1 percent.

  • Extraction under IV sedation

    For anxious patients or bilateral and quadrant cases. Awake but relaxed with limited memory. Adds cost but transforms the experience.

  • Extraction under nitrous oxide sedation

    A milder anxiolytic for moderate anxiety - recovery is quick and driving is permitted after 30 minutes.

  • Extraction under general anaesthetic

    For medically complex patients, severe anxiety, paediatric cases or where multiple teeth are combined with other oral procedures.

  • Watchful waiting under review

    For asymptomatic partially erupted teeth without caries, cyst or orthodontic need - annual review, hygienist reinforcement and a clear escalation plan.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

A well-established treatment. The things worth planning are the approach, the recovery, and knowing the honest risks.

  • Local anaesthetic is standard

    Local alone is sufficient for most upper and many lower wisdom teeth. Sedation and GA are added for anxiety, complexity or multiple teeth in one visit.

  • Inferior alveolar nerve injury

    The nerve supplying sensation to the lower lip and chin. Temporary numbness after lower wisdom tooth removal is around 1–5 percent; permanent numbness under 1 percent with CBCT planning and coronectomy where appropriate.

  • Lingual nerve injury

    The nerve supplying tongue sensation and taste. Temporary numbness under 2 percent, permanent under 0.5 percent. Careful lingual retraction and technique minimise the risk.

  • Dry socket

    The most frequent complication after lower wisdom tooth extraction - 5–15 percent, higher in smokers and users of the contraceptive pill. Severe pain from day 3, treatable in one visit with irrigation and a dressing.

  • Bleeding, bruising and swelling

    Peak swelling at day 2–3, resolves by day 7. Cold packs in the first 24 hours help. Persistent bleeding beyond gauze pressure needs same-day contact.

  • Infection

    Post-extraction infection under 3 percent - treated with antibiotics and, occasionally, socket irrigation. Antibiotics are not given prophylactically as a rule.

  • Trismus (limited mouth opening)

    Reduced jaw opening for 1–2 weeks after surgery - normal and improves with gentle stretching. Persistent trismus beyond three weeks needs review.

  • Sinus communication (upper wisdom teeth)

    The upper wisdom tooth roots can protrude into the maxillary sinus. A small opening usually closes spontaneously; larger openings need a simple flap closure.

  • Red flags after surgery

    Spreading swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, persistent numbness beyond expectation, or worsening pain after day 3 need same-day team contact.

Reading your notes

Your extraction note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever teeth were removed, and whichever technique was used, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.

A UK consultant oral surgeon reviewing a wisdom-tooth CBCT scan

A quiet reminder

Clinical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the notes before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Teeth removed and technique

    Which wisdom teeth (upper, lower, right, left), and whether standard extraction or coronectomy was performed.

  2. 02 Technique

    Flap, bone removal and sectioning

    The flap raised, bone removed, tooth sectioning, and the closure with dissolving or non-dissolving sutures.

  3. 03 Findings

    Nerve status and socket condition

    Proximity to the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves, whether the nerve was visualised, and the socket condition after extraction.

  4. 04 Impression

    Aftercare, nerve monitoring and next side

    Read this first: the aftercare plan, any nerve monitoring required, and the timing for the opposite side if staged.

Recognised by major UK insurers where medically indicated

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Wisdom tooth removal is covered by many dental plans and by some health insurance policies when medically indicated (recurrent infection, cyst or medical clearance). Cosmetic or prophylactic removal is not covered.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about wisdom tooth removal.

Quick answers on nerve risk, coronectomy, sedation, pain and cost.

  • Do wisdom teeth always need to be removed?

    No. NICE guidance is against prophylactic removal of symptom-free wisdom teeth. Removal is indicated for recurrent pericoronitis (repeated gum infection), caries in the wisdom tooth or adjacent second molar, a cyst or tumour associated with the tooth, orthodontic requirement, or pre-radiotherapy or pre-bisphosphonate dental clearance. Watchful waiting is a legitimate option for asymptomatic teeth.

  • What is coronectomy?

    Coronectomy removes the crown of a lower wisdom tooth and leaves the roots in place. It is used where the roots contact or wrap around the inferior alveolar nerve canal on CBCT. The nerve injury rate drops from around 5–10 percent for full extraction to under 1 percent. In experienced hands the roots either stay quiet permanently or migrate away from the nerve and can be removed later if needed. It is under-offered in general dental practice - we discuss it whenever the imaging warrants.

  • Will I be numb afterwards?

    Temporary numbness of the lower lip, chin or tongue after lower wisdom tooth extraction occurs in around 1–5 percent of cases, resolving within days to a few months. Permanent numbness is uncommon - under 1 percent with proper CBCT planning and coronectomy where appropriate. Upper wisdom tooth extraction rarely causes numbness.

  • How much pain and swelling should I expect?

    Local anaesthetic makes the procedure itself painless. Post-op pain is typically 5–7 out of 10 for the first three days, controlled with paracetamol and ibuprofen alternated. Swelling peaks at day 2–3 and resolves by day 7. Trismus (reduced mouth opening) is normal for the first 1–2 weeks. Pain that worsens after day 3 is often dry socket and treatable in one visit.

  • Should I have all four out at once?

    It is a personal choice. Doing all four in one visit under sedation halves the total downtime - one recovery period, one week off. Staging into two visits means less swelling each time and one side always available for chewing. We help you decide based on your work, home situation and anxiety, not on our diary.

  • How much does private wisdom tooth removal cost in the UK?

    Roughly £220–£450 per upper wisdom tooth, £380–£850 per lower, £720–£1,600 for bilateral lowers, and £1,850–£3,600 for all four under sedation. Coronectomy costs £520–£1,050 per lower tooth. CBCT if needed is £150–£280. A firm quote follows imaging.

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