Wisdom teeth — the third molars that arrive in your late teens or twenties — are the most commonly extracted teeth. But not every wisdom tooth needs to go. Here's how to know whether yours should come out, what removal costs in Metro Manila, what the procedure actually feels like, and how to get through recovery without complications.
Do all wisdom teeth need to be removed?
No. A wisdom tooth that has come through fully, sits in line with the other teeth, has a healthy partner tooth to bite against and can be cleaned properly can stay for life. Removal is recommended when a tooth is impacted (stuck under gum or bone, or growing at an angle), when it's partially through and the gum flap over it keeps getting infected, when it's decayed or causing decay in the tooth in front of it, or when it's pushing on the neighbouring teeth. The decision is made from an X-ray, not from whether it hurts — some of the most damaging wisdom teeth are painless for years.
What are the signs a wisdom tooth needs removal?
- Pain or swelling at the back of your jaw, especially on and off
- Recurring gum infection around a partially erupted tooth (pericoronitis) — a bad taste, swelling, difficulty opening the mouth
- Crowding pressure on neighbouring teeth, or food packing between the wisdom tooth and the one in front
- Decay in a tooth that's too far back to clean properly
- Jaw stiffness or pain on chewing on one side
An X-ray (periapical or panoramic) tells the real story — impaction angle, root shape, how close the roots sit to the nerve in the lower jaw, and the sinus in the upper jaw.
How much does wisdom tooth removal cost in the Philippines?
At Modern Smiles in Pasig and Mandaluyong, guide fees are: wisdom tooth removal from ₱9,000 for a fully erupted tooth (lowers are usually more complex than uppers), and impacted wisdom teeth from ₱15,000 when surgical access is needed — that is, when gum has to be lifted or a little bone removed to reach the tooth. All include local anaesthesia. A periapical X-ray is ₱600 and a panoramic X-ray ₱1,250, ordered only when clinically indicated. Final quotes follow a clinical exam and X-ray, and installment plans are available. Guide prices last reviewed October 2026.
Why do lower wisdom teeth cost more and take longer?
Lower wisdom teeth sit in denser bone, are more often impacted at an angle, and their roots can lie close to the nerve that supplies feeling to the lip and chin. That makes the surgery more technical and the planning more careful, which is why a lower impacted tooth is the most involved extraction most people will ever have — and why an X-ray is non-negotiable before quoting.
What does the procedure feel like?
You'll be numbed with local anaesthesia — expect pressure and some pushing, but little to no sharp pain. If you feel pain, say so; more anaesthetic is always available. Simple cases take about 20–40 minutes; surgical cases take longer depending on impaction, and the tooth is sometimes divided into sections to remove it with less force. Stitches, if used, usually dissolve on their own within a week or two. You'll be given gauze, written after-care instructions and a prescription before you leave.
Recovery: the first 72 hours
Bite on gauze for the first 30–60 minutes as instructed and change it if it soaks through. Skip straws, spitting, smoking and vigorous rinsing for the first 24 hours — they can dislodge the healing clot and cause dry socket, which is the most common complication and a very painful one. Take medications as prescribed, use a cold compress on the cheek in 15-minute intervals on day one, and sleep with your head slightly raised. Swelling peaks around day two or three and then subsides. Most soreness eases within 2–3 days. Soft foods, cold compress and rest do most of the work; lugaw, sopas, yogurt and mashed vegetables are easier than you'd think to live on for three days.
When should you call the clinic after an extraction?
Call us if bleeding hasn't settled after a few hours of firm gauze pressure, if pain gets worse after day three rather than better (a sign of dry socket), if you develop a fever or spreading swelling, or if numbness in the lip or chin lasts beyond the anaesthetic wearing off. All of these are manageable, and faster if we hear about them early.
Don't wait for the ache
Wisdom tooth problems rarely improve on their own — and infections pick inconvenient weeks to flare up. Removal is also simpler in your late teens and twenties, when roots are still forming and bone is less dense, than in your forties. If you're feeling pressure back there, an assessment is quick and inexpensive.
Common questions
Can all four be removed at once?
Sometimes, depending on complexity and your preference. Many patients prefer two at a time, one side, so they can still chew on the other side.
Will I need to take time off work?
Plan for the day of the procedure and ideally the day after for surgical cases. Desk work is usually fine from day two.
Does HMO cover wisdom tooth removal?
Simple extractions are often covered; surgical removal of impacted teeth usually isn't, or only partly. We verify your card before treatment — see our HMO page.
Do I need to replace a removed wisdom tooth?
No. Wisdom teeth are the one tooth you don't replace.
Read about extraction options or book a consult.
Written by Dr. Karla Domingo-Cuison, Head Dentist · Last reviewed October 2026. Prices are Modern Smiles' published guide fees and are confirmed after clinical evaluation.