Wisdom teeth are the third molars, the last teeth to come through, usually in the late teens to mid-20s. They often need removing when there isn't enough room and become impacted, causing pain, infection or crowding, but not every wisdom tooth needs to come out, so we assess yours with an X-ray first and only recommend removal when needed.
Days to two weeks
Simple heals faster than surgical cases
Complex cases done in-house
No referral for impacted wisdom teeth
Happy gas available
No general anaesthetic or hospital sedation
Five languages
Mandarin, Cantonese, Teochew, Shanghainese, English
Wisdom teeth are the third molars — the last teeth to come through, usually in the late teens to mid-20s. They often need removing when there isn't enough room and they become impacted, which can cause pain, infection, crowding, or damage to the neighbouring tooth. But not every wisdom tooth needs to come out, so we assess yours with an X-ray first and only recommend removal when there's a clear reason. Simple, fully-erupted teeth are removed in the chair under local anaesthetic, with happy gas available if you're nervous. Complex and impacted teeth are done here too: Dr Kerry Chen, who trained at the University of Melbourne, performs all the complex extractions at this practice, so a surgical wisdom tooth is assessed and removed in the same rooms rather than referred elsewhere. Whitehorse Dental is at 129A Canterbury Road, Blackburn — consultations are available in Mandarin, Cantonese, Teochew, Shanghainese and English, and Saturday appointments are available.
| At a glance | What to know |
|---|---|
| When removal is needed | Decay or bone loss on the second molar in front, repeated pericoronitis, a cyst, or resorption of the neighbouring root. Assessed case by case, never automatically |
| Simple vs surgical | Fully erupted = simple removal, ADA item 311. Under the gum or bone = surgical, items 322, 323 or 324 depending on whether bone removal and tooth division are needed |
| Recovery | Swelling and stiffness peak at 48–72 hours, then ease. Simple cases 2–4 days; surgical cases 7–14 days |
| Who does the surgery | Dr Kerry Chen (University of Melbourne) does all complex extractions in-house, so impacted teeth are not routinely referred out |
| Comfort options | Local anaesthetic, plus happy gas in the chair or oral premedication, and a ceiling TV. We do not offer general anaesthetic or hospital sedation |
No, and this is where we start. Many wisdom teeth come through in a workable position and can simply be kept and cleaned like any other tooth. NICE guidance on the extraction of wisdom teeth concluded that surgical removal should be limited to patients with evidence of pathology, and the 2020 Cochrane review on removal versus retention found insufficient evidence either way, recommending shared decision-making rather than a rule. So we look for a specific reason: decay on the back surface of the second molar in front, a deepening periodontal pocket behind it, repeated pericoronitis under a gum flap, a dentigerous cyst forming around the follicle, or resorption of the neighbouring root. Our approach is to assess before we remove: an OPG to see the position, angle and roots of each tooth and their relationship to the nerve canal, then an honest conversation about whether anything needs doing at all. If a wisdom tooth is healthy and doing no harm, the sensible advice is usually to leave it and keep an eye on it. We keep your imaging in Dental4Windows, so an OPG taken at 18 can be compared with one taken at 21 to see whether a tooth is still moving.
Knowing the sequence takes a lot of the worry out of it, particularly if this is your first surgical procedure:
Good aftercare in the first few days protects the socket and lowers the risk of complications like dry socket. We generally recommend:
Australian Dental Association (ADA) item numbers identify each procedure on your receipt and private health-fund claim. They're national identifiers — not fees — so they're the same wherever you're treated, and worth quoting when you check your cover with your health fund. The codes you're most likely to see for wisdom teeth are:
| ADA item | Procedure |
|---|---|
| 311 | Removal of a tooth — simple (fully erupted) |
| 322 | Surgical removal, not requiring removal of bone |
| 323 | Surgical removal requiring removal of bone |
| 324 | Surgical removal requiring bone removal and tooth division (impacted) |
More complex cases may attract additional surgical items. Your written treatment plan will list the exact item numbers that apply to your teeth.
The figures below are general indicative ranges across Australian clinics (2025), provided as a guide only — they are not a quote and not a statement of Whitehorse Dental’s fees. Your exact cost is confirmed in a written treatment plan after your assessment.
| Type | Indicative range (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Simple wisdom tooth (per tooth) | $200 – $600 |
| Surgical / impacted (per tooth) | $400 – $1,200+ |
Indicative Australian ranges (2025) shown as a general guide only, not a quote. If you hold private extras cover, we can help you check your rebate before you commit.
Your cost follows the item number, and the item number follows what has to be done to get the tooth out. For public context: the ADA's 2022 fee survey, reported by CHOICE, put the national average for a simple extraction (item 311) at $205, and the Department of Veterans' Affairs schedule effective 1 July 2026 pays $162.30 for item 311, $263.35 for 322, $300.80 for 323 and $404.60 for 324. Those aren't our fees and they aren't private fees, but the ladder shows roughly two and a half times the work between the simplest and the most involved item. We confirm which applies after your OPG and give you an itemised written plan, with the item numbers, before anything is booked. We have HICAPS on site and accept DVA cards, and we bulk bill the Child Dental Benefits Schedule for eligible patients up to 17.
Wisdom teeth are the one dental issue that lands squarely on the younger end of the family. They tend to erupt and cause trouble in the late teens and twenties — often the university-age children still living at home — and it's frequently a parent who books the appointment and comes along. Blackburn is a strongly family suburb: couples with children make up 48.2% of local families, and around one in seven residents is aged 15 to 24, so we regularly see the older teens and twenty-somethings of a household for exactly this. From our Canterbury Road practice we look after patients across Blackburn, Blackburn North and Blackburn South, and neighbouring Box Hill, Nunawading and Forest Hill — with Blackburn and Laburnum stations on the Belgrave and Lilydale lines a short walk away, and on-site parking for the drop-off and pick-up.
For many younger patients, having a wisdom tooth out is their first surgical procedure, and a little reassurance goes a long way. Blackburn has a large and long-established Chinese-Australian community — 17.7% of residents reported Chinese ancestry in 2021, and across the wider City of Whitehorse it's the single largest ancestry at 26.2%. Around one in ten Blackburn residents speaks Mandarin at home, with more speaking Cantonese. Being able to ask "does this really need to come out?" and understand the answer in your first language — often alongside a parent — takes a lot of the anxiety out of it. Consultations at Whitehorse Dental are available in Mandarin, Cantonese, Teochew, Shanghainese and English, throughout your care rather than just at the front desk. If you feel nervous about treatment, our approach to dental anxiety applies here too.
Wisdom teeth are a specific kind of extraction — the third molars, right at the back — so if you're weighing up removal of a different tooth, our general tooth extractions page covers that. A partially erupted or impacted wisdom tooth can also flare up suddenly with pain, swelling and infection (pericoronitis). If you're in acute discomfort, contact our Blackburn practice early in the day — you can read more about emergency dental care, and where suitable we'll settle the area first, then plan proper treatment of the tooth once you're more comfortable.
Whitehorse Dental is at 129A Canterbury Road, Blackburn VIC 3130 — easily reached from across the eastern suburbs by train or car, with on-site parking. Because we assess before we remove, the first step is simply an X-ray and exam so we can tell you honestly whether your wisdom teeth need attention at all. Saturday appointments make it easier to fit around study, work and family. Call us on (03) 8838 8820 or book online to arrange a wisdom teeth assessment.
Our dentists have written these up properly, so you can read the whole answer before you sit in the chair.
No. Plenty of wisdom teeth come through in a good position, function normally, and can be kept and looked after like any other tooth. NICE guidance on the extraction of wisdom teeth is explicit that surgical removal should be limited to patients with evidence of pathology, and that routine removal of pathology-free impacted teeth should be discontinued. So we look for a specific reason: decay on the back of the second molar in front, a deepening gum pocket behind it, repeated pericoronitis, a cyst around the follicle, or resorption of the neighbouring root. Removing healthy wisdom teeth to prevent front-tooth crowding is not supported by the evidence; late crowding tracks much more closely with continued jaw growth and retainer wear.
The removal itself is done with the area fully numbed by local anaesthetic, so you shouldn't feel pain during the procedure. Some pressure and movement is normal. If you're anxious, happy gas (nitrous oxide) is available in the chair, or oral premedication if you'd rather arrive already settled. There's a ceiling TV above the chair and you choose what's on it. We don't offer general anaesthetic or hospital sedation; if a case genuinely needs a theatre, we'll say so and refer. Any tenderness tends to come afterwards as you heal, and we'll go through the pain relief and aftercare that keeps that manageable.
For a simple extraction most people feel much better within a few days. Swelling and soreness often peak around day two or three and then ease. Surgical or impacted removals involve more healing and can take up to around two weeks to settle fully. We'll give you specific aftercare for your case, and it's sensible to plan a quiet couple of days rather than a big event straight afterwards.
The fee follows the ADA item number, and the item number describes what physically has to be done. Item 311 is a simple removal of a fully erupted tooth. Item 322 is a surgical removal where a gum flap is lifted but no bone is taken. Item 323 adds removal of bone. Item 324 adds bone removal plus dividing the tooth so it can be lifted out in sections. Each step is added because the tooth won't come out without it. Because Dr Kerry Chen performs the complex extractions here in our own chairs, a 323 or 324 doesn't mean a referral elsewhere and a second consultation fee on top.
It depends on how many teeth are removed and which ADA item each one falls under. A simple, fully-erupted tooth (item 311) costs less than a surgical removal needing bone removal and tooth division (item 324). We take an OPG first, then give you a written treatment plan listing the item number for each tooth, before anything is booked, so you can check it against your health fund rather than being told the gap afterwards. For public context, the ADA's 2022 fee survey reported by CHOICE put the national average for a simple extraction at $205, and the DVA schedule effective 1 July 2026 pays $162.30 for item 311 rising to $404.60 for item 324. Those aren't our fees; they show the shape of the gap between the items. We have HICAPS on site and accept DVA cards.
Wisdom teeth typically come through in the late teens to mid-20s, so that's the age we most often assess them. Removing a problematic tooth earlier, while the roots are less developed, can make recovery more straightforward — but age alone isn't a reason to remove a healthy wisdom tooth. An X-ray and exam are the way to tell whether and when yours need attention.
Dry socket happens when the blood clot that forms in the socket after an extraction is dislodged or breaks down too early, leaving the bone exposed. It can cause noticeable throbbing a few days later. You lower the risk by avoiding smoking, straws, and vigorous rinsing for the first 24 hours, sticking to soft foods, and following the aftercare we give you. If discomfort worsens rather than settles after a few days, contact us so we can help.
Not necessarily. Whether to remove one, some, or all four depends on how each tooth is positioned and whether it's actually causing a problem. Some people choose to have several done in one visit for convenience; others only need the troublesome one removed and keep the rest. We'll talk through what makes sense for your situation rather than removing teeth that don't need it.
Dr Kerry Chen performs all the complex extractions at this practice, wisdom teeth included, in our own chairs at 129A Canterbury Road. She trained at the University of Melbourne. Practically, that means an impacted lower wisdom tooth is assessed and removed here, working from the same OPG, rather than being referred to a third party with a second consultation fee and another wait. Everything is done under local anaesthetic, with happy gas or oral premedication available. We don't offer general anaesthetic or hospital sedation, and where a case genuinely needs a hospital theatre we'll say so rather than start something in a dental chair that doesn't belong there.
It can be. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule covers extractions, and it also covers inhalation sedation as item 88943 at $77.60. Eligibility runs to age 17 for at least one day in the calendar year, with a benefit cap of $1,158 over two consecutive calendar years, or $1,132 if the child's window opened in 2025. We bulk bill CDBS at this practice, and a bulk-billed CDBS service can't carry a co-payment. CDBS does not cover general anaesthetic. Because wisdom teeth often start causing trouble at 17 or 18, it's worth having them assessed before the eighteenth birthday rather than after it.
Yes. Consultations at Whitehorse Dental are available in Mandarin, Cantonese, Teochew, Shanghainese and English. For many younger patients this is their first surgical procedure, and being able to ask questions and understand the answers in your first language — often with a parent in the room — makes the whole thing far less daunting.