Wisdom teeth extraction in London, ON

When removal makes sense

• Impaction — the tooth is trapped under gum or bone and can’t erupt properly.
• Crowding or damage — pressure against the neighbouring molar risks decay or shifting.
• Repeated infection — partially erupted wisdom teeth are hard to clean and prone to painful flare-ups.
• Decay or gum disease — in a tooth that’s difficult to restore and maintain.

Digital X-rays let us see exactly how your wisdom teeth sit before recommending anything. If they’re healthy and well-positioned, we’ll tell you — monitoring is a perfectly good plan too.

When leaving them alone is the right answer

Not every wisdom tooth needs removing, and we would rather say so than book a procedure. If yours have come through straight, you can reach them with a brush, and they are not pressing on anything, monitoring them at your regular checkups is a perfectly good plan. Plenty of people keep theirs for life.

What changes the calculation is position rather than age. A tooth angled into its neighbour, or half-covered by gum that traps food, tends to cause the same problem repeatedly — and the repeat is usually what decides it.

What happens on the day

• Numbing, properly. We wait until you tell us the area is numb, not until we think it should be. You will feel pressure during the extraction — that part is normal and expected — but you should not feel sharpness.
• The extraction itself. Often quicker than people expect. A tooth that has come through fully can be straightforward; one that is impacted takes longer and may need a small incision in the gum.
• Stitches, sometimes. Usually the dissolving kind, so there is no second appointment just to remove them.
• Written aftercare before you leave. What to eat, how to manage swelling, and — importantly — what is normal versus what warrants a call.

Complex cases are referred to a trusted oral surgeon when that is genuinely the safer route. We would rather send you to the right person than stretch to keep the work.

Recovery, honestly

Most people are back to normal routines within a few days. The first forty-eight hours are the ones that matter, and following the aftercare plan through them makes more difference than anything else.

• Expect swelling to peak around day two, not day one — people often think they are getting worse when they are on schedule.
• Soft food, and nothing too hot for the first day or so.
• Do not rinse vigorously, spit hard, or use a straw for the first day. All three can dislodge the clot that is protecting the socket.
• Do not smoke if you possibly can avoid it — it is the single biggest risk factor for a painful dry socket.
• Ordinary over-the-counter pain relief, taken as directed on the packet, is usually enough.

Call us if the pain gets worse rather than better after about three days, if swelling increases instead of settling, if you develop a bad taste or fever, or if bleeding does not stop with steady pressure. None of those are common, but all of them are worth a phone call rather than a wait.

Anxious about it?

This is one of the treatments people most dread, usually on the strength of someone else’s story. Tell us when you book rather than on the day — it changes how we plan the appointment. Our page on dental anxiety and sedation sets out what else we can offer.

Cost and insurance

Cost depends on the position of the tooth rather than which tooth it is — a fully erupted wisdom tooth and an impacted one are quite different procedures. We will confirm your coverage and give you the cost in writing before anything is booked.

Most insurance plans contribute toward extractions. We direct-bill where we can, and we are a participating Canadian Dental Care Plan provider.

Common questions

Do I have to have my wisdom teeth out?

Not automatically, no. If they have come through straight, you can clean them, and they are not damaging the tooth in front, keeping an eye on them is a legitimate plan. Removal is for teeth that are causing problems or are clearly going to. We will show you the X-ray and explain which of those applies to you.

Will I be awake?

Yes. Extractions here are done under local anaesthetic, so the area is numb but you are awake and able to talk to us. You will feel pressure and movement, which is normal, but not sharpness. If being awake is the part you are dreading, say so when you book and we will talk through the options.

How long until I can eat normally?

Soft food for the first day or two, then most people ease back to normal over the following few days as comfort allows. Avoid anything hot on the first day while you are still numb, and chew on the other side until the socket feels settled. There is no fixed date — go by how it feels rather than the calendar.

What is dry socket, and how do I avoid it?

After an extraction a clot forms in the socket and protects the bone underneath while it heals. If that clot is dislodged too early the exposed bone is painful — that is dry socket. It is not common, and it is largely avoidable: for the first day do not rinse vigorously, spit hard, or drink through a straw, and avoid smoking. If a deep ache starts a few days after the extraction rather than settling, call us. It is treatable and we would rather see you.

Can all four come out at once?

Sometimes, and sometimes it is better not to. Doing all four together means one recovery instead of several, which suits some people. Doing one side at a time leaves you able to chew comfortably on the other, which suits others. It also depends on how the teeth are positioned. We will give you our recommendation and the reasoning, then it is your call.