Wisdom tooth recovery timeline and aftercare guide
Cheek swelling and jaw stiffness peak at 48 to 72 hours after surgical wisdom tooth removal. Do not rinse, spit, smoke, vape or use a straw for the first 24 hours; start gentle warm salt-water rinses after meals from day 2, and allow 3 to 5 days off work for surgical lower extractions.
What is normal on each day after surgery, what soft foods to stock at home, and how to protect the healing blood clot.
Free, no obligation. One registered dental clinic in your county replies, not five.
What happens from Hour 1 to Day 14
| Stage | What is normal | What to do | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| First 24 hours | Pink saliva, numb lip/tongue wearing off after 3 to 5 hours, dull ache | Bite firmly on gauze for 30 to 45 mins; take pain relief before numbness wears off; hold a wrapped ice pack to your cheek (20 mins on/off) | No rinsing, spitting, hot drinks, alcohol, smoking, vaping or drinking through a straw |
| Days 2 to 3 (peak swelling) | Cheek swelling and tight jaw peak at 48 to 72 hours; mild yellowish bruising on jawline | Start gentle warm salt-water rinses (half a teaspoon of salt in warm water) after meals; prop your head on two pillows | Avoid crunchy, seedy or chewy foods; no gym workouts or heavy lifting |
| Days 4 to 7 | Swelling drops steadily; jaw opens wider; dissolving stitches begin to soften | Step up from soup and yoghurt to scrambled eggs, mashed potato, soft pasta and flaky fish | Watch for sudden worsening throbbing pain radiating to the ear on day 3 to 5 (sign of dry socket) |
| Days 8 to 14 | Gum closes over socket; dissolving stitches fall out between days 7 and 14 | Return to normal diet; gently flush lower socket with warm salt water after meals if food collects | Deep jawbone infill continues quietly beneath the gum over 8 to 12 weeks |
Time off work and what to eat in the first week
For a simple upper wisdom tooth extraction, most people return to desk work the next day. For a surgical lower impacted wisdom tooth (or 2 to 4 wisdom teeth under IV sedation), book 3 to 5 days off work or college and avoid heavy physical labour or contact sport for a full week.
Best soft foods to stock before your appointment: Greek yoghurt, cooled blended soups, smoothies eaten with a spoon (never through a straw), mashed potato, scrambled eggs, lukewarm porridge, avocado and soft pasta. Avoid rice, sesame seeds, crisps, nuts and popcorn for 10 days as tiny hard grains lodge easily in lower sockets.
What wisdom tooth extraction costs in Ireland
Our price guide for simple and surgical impacted wisdom teeth, conscious IV sedation, and what 20% Form Med 2 tax relief takes off.
| Job | Typical cost | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Simple wisdom tooth extraction (fully erupted) | €150 to €300 | Routine extraction: does not qualify for 20% Form Med 2 tax relief |
| Surgical extraction — 1 impacted wisdom tooth | €350 to €500 | After 20% Form Med 2 tax relief: €280 to €400 (saves €70 to €100) |
| Surgical extraction — 2 to 4 impacted wisdom teeth (one sitting) | €700 to €1,400 | After 20% Form Med 2 tax relief: €560 to €1,120 (saves €140 to €280) |
| Conscious IV sedation (per session, not per tooth) | €350 to €450 | After 20% relief when part of surgical impacted removal: €280 to €360 |
| 1 impacted wisdom tooth + conscious IV sedation | €700 to €950 | After 20% Form Med 2 tax relief: €560 to €760 |
| 2 to 4 impacted wisdom teeth + conscious IV sedation | €1,050 to €1,850 | After 20% Form Med 2 tax relief: €840 to €1,480 |
| Day-case under general anaesthetic (all-in guide) | €1,800 to €2,500 | After 20% relief if self-paid: €1,440 to €2,000, or covered by private health insurance |
| Consultation and panoramic OPG X-ray | €120 to €220 | 3D CBCT nerve scan when lower roots overlap the nerve canal: €140 to €220 |
Get a wisdom tooth removal price from one local clinic
Tap the extraction type, whether you want IV sedation and your county. Your enquiry goes to one Dental Council-registered dental clinic or oral surgeon covering your county, and they contact you to arrange an X-ray and written plan.
Questions patients ask
How long do wisdom tooth stitches take to dissolve?
Irish oral surgeons and dentists normally use resorbable sutures that soften and fall away on their own between 7 and 14 days after surgery.
Why can't I use a straw or vape after wisdom tooth removal?
Sucking on a straw, cigarette or vape creates negative suction inside the mouth that pulls the healing blood clot out of the socket, exposing raw bone and causing dry socket.
Need an impacted wisdom tooth removed or want IV sedation?
One Dental Council-registered clinic or oral surgeon covering your county contacts you. Nothing is booked until you have a written treatment plan.