Wisdom Tooth Extraction in Kolkata: When You Need It, the Procedure and Recovery

Not every wisdom tooth has to come out, but an impacted or repeatedly infected one usually should. Here is how a dentist decides, what wisdom tooth removal involves, and how to recover comfortably.

Overview

Wisdom teeth are the last molars to erupt, usually between the ages of 17 and 25. Many people have enough space for them and never have a problem. For others, a wisdom tooth comes in at an angle, stays partly buried under the gum, or traps food and bacteria, and the result is pain, swelling and repeated infections.

Painkillers and home remedies can calm a flare-up for a while, as our wisdom tooth pain relief guide explains, but they do not fix the cause. If the same tooth keeps hurting, it is worth finding out whether it should be removed.

Signs a wisdom tooth may need to come out

Repeated swelling and pain in the gum behind your last molar (pericoronitis), especially if it keeps coming back.

Food getting stuck around a partly erupted tooth, bad taste or bad breath from that area.

Decay in the wisdom tooth, or in the second molar in front of it, that is hard to clean or treat.

Pain when opening your mouth wide, jaw stiffness or swelling in the cheek.

A cyst, gum pocket or bone loss around the tooth seen on an X-ray.

A wisdom tooth that is pushing against or damaging the neighbouring tooth.

Not every wisdom tooth needs removal

A wisdom tooth that is fully erupted, upright, healthy and easy to clean can usually stay. Removal is recommended when a tooth is causing problems or is very likely to, not simply because it is a wisdom tooth. A careful examination is what tells the two apart.

How we assess your wisdom tooth

Your dentist will examine the area and take an X-ray (usually an OPG, which shows all your teeth and jaws). For lower wisdom teeth that sit close to the nerve that supplies feeling to the lip and chin, a CBCT 3D imaging scan shows exactly where the roots and nerve are. This lets us plan the safest approach and tell you honestly about any risks before you decide.

What happens during wisdom tooth removal

Simple extraction: if the tooth has fully erupted, it can often be removed much like any other tooth, under local anaesthesia, in a short appointment.

Surgical extraction: an impacted tooth may need a small opening in the gum, and sometimes the tooth is divided into sections so it can be lifted out with less pressure on the surrounding bone. The area is then stitched.

You stay numb throughout, so you feel pressure but not pain. Most procedures take between 20 minutes and an hour depending on how the tooth is positioned. If you feel anxious, tell us in advance so we can plan for it.

Recovery: what to expect day by day

First 24 hours: bite gently on gauze to control bleeding, rest, and use a cold pack on the cheek in short intervals. Avoid rinsing, spitting forcefully, drinking through a straw, smoking and hot drinks, as these can dislodge the blood clot.

Days 2 to 3: swelling and stiffness usually peak and then settle. Eat soft, lukewarm food and take any medicine exactly as prescribed.

From day 3: start gentle warm salt-water rinses after meals and brush the rest of your mouth normally, carefully around the socket.

About a week: most people feel close to normal; stitches, if non-dissolving, are removed at a review visit.

When to call your dentist

Contact us if pain gets worse after day 3 instead of better (this can be a sign of dry socket), if bleeding does not stop with firm pressure, if you develop fever or swelling that keeps increasing, or if numbness of the lip or chin lasts after the anaesthetic should have worn off. If you are in severe pain at any point, our emergency dental care team can see you.

What affects the cost of wisdom tooth removal

The fee depends mainly on whether the extraction is simple or surgical, how deeply the tooth is impacted, whether a CBCT scan is needed, and how many teeth are being removed. We give you a clear estimate after the examination and X-ray, before anything is done. If a missing back tooth needs replacing later, we can also explain options such as dental implants.

Frequently asked questions

Is wisdom tooth removal painful? The procedure itself is done under local anaesthesia, so you should not feel pain. Some soreness and swelling afterwards is normal and is managed with prescribed medicine.

Should I remove all four wisdom teeth at once? Not necessarily. Teeth that are healthy can often stay; the plan depends on what the X-rays show.

How long off work? Many people take one or two days off after a surgical extraction; a simple extraction often needs less.

Can I remove a wisdom tooth while it is infected? Sometimes the infection is settled first and the tooth removed afterwards. Your dentist will advise.

Troubled by a wisdom tooth? book a consultation at our Park Street, Salt Lake or New Alipore clinic, or call +91 78900 08331.