Wisdom teeth removal · Malanshof, Randburg
Wisdom teeth causing trouble
An ache at the very back, a gum that keeps flaring where the last tooth is pushing through — wisdom teeth make trouble when there’s no room for them. Not all of them need to go; we’ll tell you which is which.
Toothache right now? We keep same-day slots — and we answer.
Call nowWhy it happens
Wisdom teeth are the last to arrive — usually in your late teens or twenties — and by then the jaw is often full. A tooth with nowhere to go comes through at an angle, gets stuck against its neighbour, or only breaks partway through the gum.
A partly-through tooth leaves a flap of gum that traps food and is hard to keep clean — which is why the same back corner keeps getting sore, swollen or infected. A wisdom tooth that has come through straight, with room to clean it, can be left in peace.
How we fix it
We start by looking properly: an examination and an X-ray to see how the tooth is lying, where its roots run and what it’s pressing against. If the tooth is healthy and cleanable, keeping it is a perfectly good outcome — and we’ll say so.
A straightforward wisdom tooth comes out here in the chair, under local anaesthetic, usually in one visit — much like any other extraction. And we’re honest about the limits: a deeply impacted tooth, or one lying close to the nerve in the jaw, deserves a specialist’s hands, so we refer those to a maxillofacial surgeon rather than have a go. You’ll know exactly which kind yours is before anything is booked.
Keeping it fixed
After a wisdom tooth comes out, that back corner needs a few days of care:
- Protect the clot on day one — no rinsing, spitting, straws or smoking — then gentle warm salt-water rinses after meals from day two.
- Swelling peaks around the second or third day and then fades; a cold compress on the first day helps keep it down.
- Keep the rest of your teeth clean as normal — just go gently near the healing corner.
- Throbbing that gets worse after a few days instead of better deserves a call — we’d rather check than have you wait it out.
What it costs
Medical aid rates. We quote before we treat.
The assessment and X-ray are quoted before you book them, like everything else — and once they show what your tooth is doing, you get the removal quote before anything further is booked. If a specialist is the right call, we say so at that visit and refer you.
Questions patients ask
Do all wisdom teeth need to be removed?
No. A wisdom tooth that has come through straight, with room to keep it clean, can be left in peace. The ones that cause trouble are stuck, angled or only partway through the gum — an examination and an X-ray tell us which kind yours is.
How do I know if my wisdom teeth are coming through?
The usual signs are an ache or pressure at the very back of the jaw, a gum that’s tender or swollen behind the last tooth, and a corner that keeps getting sore or infected. It typically starts in the late teens or twenties — book a look and we’ll confirm.
Can you remove wisdom teeth at your practice?
Routine ones, yes — a straightforward wisdom tooth comes out here in the chair under local anaesthetic, usually in one visit. A deeply impacted tooth, or one close to the nerve in the jaw, deserves a specialist, and we’ll refer you honestly rather than have a go.
Does wisdom tooth removal hurt?
The area is numbed thoroughly first, so you’ll feel pressure rather than sharp pain. Expect some swelling and tenderness for a few days afterwards — it peaks around day two or three, then fades — and we’ll send you home knowing exactly how to manage it.
What happens if I ignore a troublesome wisdom tooth?
The same corner usually keeps flaring: a partly-through tooth traps food under the gum flap, so soreness, swelling and infection come back — and a badly angled tooth can press on and damage its neighbour. Trouble that repeats is a tooth worth checking.
How much does wisdom tooth removal cost?
We quote before we treat, at medical aid rates — the assessment and X-ray are quoted upfront, and the exact removal quote follows once the X-ray shows how the tooth is lying. If a specialist is the better call, we say so at that visit and refer you.
Something else bothering you? See all services