Wisdom teeth are the third molars that come through between about 17 and 25; not everyone has all four. Removal is recommended in Australia when a tooth is impacted, decayed, repeatedly infected or affecting its neighbour, not routinely. In 2026 removal costs indicatively $250 to $800 per tooth in the chair or $3,000 to $6,000+ for all four under general anaesthetic; recovery takes about four to seven days.
Wisdom teeth are the third molars, the last teeth at the back of each corner of the mouth. They are the final adult teeth to arrive, usually between 17 and 25, long after the rest of the adult set is in place at around 12 or 13. The name comes from the age: they appear when you are, in theory, a little wiser.
Not everyone has them. Healthdirect notes you can have up to four, but they may only partly emerge, may never appear, or you may have none at all. Studies suggest a sizeable minority of people are missing at least one, and the proportion varies by ancestry. Having no wisdom teeth is not a problem and needs no treatment. The reverse is more common: four wisdom teeth trying to fit into a jaw that has room for 28 teeth.
That is the core of the issue. Human jaws have become shorter over time, but the number of teeth has not changed, so the third molars are often the ones squeezed out. When they cannot come through properly they become impacted.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When do they come through? | Usually 17–25; the last adult teeth to arrive |
| Does everyone have them? | No. Up to four, but some people have fewer or none, and some never erupt |
| When is removal recommended? | Impacted, decayed, repeatedly infected, damaging the next tooth, or a cyst; not routinely |
| Who removes them? | General dentist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon (AHPRA-registered) |
| Where? | Dental chair (local anaesthetic, with or without sedation) or hospital/day surgery (general anaesthetic) |
| Indicative cost | $250–$500 simple or $400–$800 surgical per tooth in chair; $3,000–$6,000+ for all four in hospital |
| Recovery | Worst on days 2–3; 4–7 days typical; 2–3 days off work (chair) to a week (hospital) |
| Best age to remove problem teeth | Before about 25, when roots are shorter and bone less dense |
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An impacted wisdom tooth is one that is blocked from coming through normally: stuck against the tooth in front, angled sideways, tilted backwards or still fully under bone. A partially erupted tooth, where only part of the crown is through the gum, is the most troublesome kind because a flap of gum sits over it and traps food and bacteria.
Impacted teeth do not always cause symptoms, and some stay quiet for life. When they do cause trouble, it is usually one of these:
Pain at the back of the jaw in your late teens or twenties is worth a dental visit and an OPG x-ray even if it settles, because recurrent pericoronitis tends to come back. See a registered dentist promptly if you have facial swelling, fever, pus or trouble swallowing; an infection needs treatment before any decision about removal.
No. The Australian Dental Association’s guidance is that removal is considered when a tooth is impacted, at risk of decay or gum disease, repeatedly infected, or affected by a cyst or tumour. Teeth that have come through fully, are in a good position and can be cleaned are usually left alone and monitored at check-ups. Routine removal of healthy, symptom-free wisdom teeth “just in case” is no longer standard practice in Australia.
Timing matters when removal is recommended. The ADA notes that removing problem teeth by around age 25 is easier than later, because roots are not fully formed, bone is less dense and recovery is quicker. Your dentist may suggest removing a tooth that is likely to cause problems before it does, particularly if the x-ray shows it will never come through properly. Ask them to show you the x-ray and explain why.
If your dentist recommends removal, you are entitled to a second opinion. Any dentist or oral surgeon you see should be registered with AHPRA; the register is public and free to search.
Wisdom teeth can be removed by a general dentist or by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, in a dental chair or in a hospital or day surgery. The choice depends on how difficult the teeth are, how many are coming out and how you feel about being awake.
Most wisdom teeth in Australia are removed in the chair under local anaesthetic, which numbs the area completely while you stay awake. You will feel pressure but not pain. Nitrous oxide (happy gas) or IV sedation can be added if you are anxious. A simple extraction of a fully erupted tooth takes minutes; a surgical extraction involves a small incision in the gum, sometimes removing a little bone and sectioning the tooth, then stitches. One or two teeth per visit is typical.
Whichever setting you choose, preparation is similar. You will have an OPG x-ray and sometimes a CBCT scan, a discussion of the risks specific to your teeth, and a written quote with item numbers. Tell the dentist about any medicines, especially blood thinners, and any medical conditions. For sedation or general anaesthetic you will be asked to fast, to bring someone to take you home and to clear the following day or two. Stock up on soft food beforehand.
Under general anaesthetic in a hospital or day surgery you are fully asleep and all four teeth are usually removed in one session of about an hour. You go home the same day with someone to drive you and cannot drive for 48 hours. Hospital is usually chosen for all four at once, deeply impacted teeth, teeth near the nerve that runs through the lower jaw, or medical reasons.
The ADA lists the main complications as pain, swelling and bruising, infection, dry socket, bleeding, damage to nearby teeth, difficulty opening the mouth for a while and, for lower teeth close to the nerve, temporary or occasionally permanent numbness of the lip, chin or tongue. Upper wisdom teeth can occasionally leave a small opening into the sinus. Serious complications are uncommon, and a CBCT scan is often used before removing a tooth that sits on the nerve to plan around it.
Indicatively, in 2026 a simple wisdom tooth extraction in the chair is $250 to $500 per tooth and a surgical removal $400 to $800 per tooth. All four under general anaesthetic in hospital is typically $3,000 to $6,000 or more once the anaesthetist and facility fees are included. The ADA’s most recent published fee survey medians were $229 non-surgical and $359 surgical per tooth nationally, with Victoria highest and South Australia lowest.
Extras cover pays part of the dentist’s fee; hospital cover with the dental surgery category pays towards the hospital and anaesthetist if you are admitted; Medicare pays nothing for most adults. Our wisdom teeth removal cost guide has the full breakdown, sedation add-ons and what to ask your fund.
Your quote minus what your fund pays, per week.
Expect soreness and swelling for a few days, worst on days two and three, with most people back to normal eating within a week. Medibank suggests two to three days off work after a chair removal and up to a week after all four in hospital. The first 24 hours are about protecting the blood clot: no rinsing, spitting, straws or smoking. Dry socket, where the clot is lost, affects about one in 20 extractions and causes severe pain from day two or three; it is treatable, so call your dentist rather than waiting it out. Our recovery guide covers what to eat, pain relief and warning signs day by day.
Prices differ by state. Finder’s reporting of the ADA fee survey put Victoria’s median at $368 for a non-surgical and $519 for a surgical extraction, the highest in the country, while Western Australia sat at $223 and $346. Melbourne has a large number of oral surgeons and hospital day-surgery units, and published 2026 Melbourne practice pricing is the basis for many of the figures on this page. Perth prices tend to sit nearer the national median, and both cities have public dental services for concession card holders and university dental clinics offering supervised treatment at reduced fees.
Wherever you are, the process is the same: an OPG x-ray, a written quote with item numbers for each tooth and the sedation option, a call to your health fund, and a check that the practitioner is AHPRA-registered. Our city directories for dentists in Melbourne and dentists in Perth list practices to start with, and our emergency dentist guide explains where to go if an infected wisdom tooth flares up out of hours.
No. Most people develop up to four, one in each back corner, but a significant minority are missing one or more and some have none at all. Others have wisdom teeth that never come through the gum. Having no wisdom teeth is not a problem and needs no treatment; it simply means a 28-tooth adult set. An OPG x-ray shows whether they are present.
Usually between 17 and 25, although they can appear later or never. They are the last of the 32 adult teeth to arrive, well after the rest of the adult set is complete at around 12 or 13. Pain or swelling at the back of the jaw in your late teens or twenties is a reason to see a dentist and have an x-ray.
Many impacted teeth cause no symptoms. When they do, typical signs are pain or pressure at the back of the jaw, swollen or bleeding gum over the tooth, a bad taste or breath, difficulty opening the mouth, pain radiating to the ear and recurring gum infections (pericoronitis). Facial swelling, fever or pus means infection and needs prompt dental care.
Not always. Australian guidance is to remove wisdom teeth that are impacted, decayed, repeatedly infected, damaging the neighbouring tooth or associated with a cyst. Teeth that have come through fully, sit well and can be cleaned are usually monitored instead. If removal is advised, doing it before about 25 is generally easier, with quicker recovery.
Victoria has the highest median extraction fees in the country in the ADA fee survey data reported by Finder, at $368 non-surgical and $519 surgical per tooth, while Western Australia sat at $223 and $346. Published 2026 Melbourne practice pricing is $250 to $500 simple and $400 to $800 surgical per tooth, and $3,000 to $6,000 or more for all four in hospital.
The procedure itself should not hurt: local anaesthetic numbs the area fully, and sedation or general anaesthetic is available if you prefer not to be aware of it. Afterwards, expect soreness and swelling that peaks on days two and three and settles over about a week, managed with the pain relief your dentist recommends. Severe pain from day two or three may be dry socket and should be checked.
General information, not personal advice. Prices are indicative and change; always get a written quote. Editorial policy · Disclaimer