Answers at a Glance
What wisdom tooth extraction is, and and who is it right for?
Wisdom tooth extraction is an oral surgery procedure that removes wisdom teeth that lie sideways or are buried in the gum and cause inflammation, cavities, or damage to neighboring teeth. At The Barunface, we check the relationship between the wisdom tooth roots and the lower jaw nerve canal, as well as the distance to the maxillary sinus, with 3D CT before extraction. A board-certified oral & maxillofacial surgeon personally performs difficult extractions, such as impacted wisdom teeth close to a nerve or teeth that must be sectioned before removal. If you need several teeth removed at once, or if you feel significant fear, the procedure can be done under sedation.
- Doctor in Charge
- Dr. Sang-Hoon Lee, Board-Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
- Diagnosis
- Large FOV CBCT (3D CT) · Panoramic X-ray
- Anesthesia
- Local anesthesia · Conscious sedation · General anesthesia facilities
Board-Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr. Sang-Hoon Lee Medically reviewed ·
Request a Consultation Consultation Prep Card13 frequently asked questions
- Duration
- Simple extraction 10 min · Impacted 20–40 min
- Anesthesia
- Local anesthesia · sedation (sleep anesthesia) if needed
- Suture Removal
- About 1 week
- Swelling
- Peaks on days 2–3 and improves around the 1-week mark
- Extraction in a single visit
- Up to 2 teeth recommended on the same side, upper and lower
- Insurance
- Covered by insurance (CT and sedation are conditional)
This content was reviewed by board-certified oral & maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Sang-Hoon Lee, Directorfor medical accuracy · Last reviewed
Recommended for You If
- Those whose gums around a wisdom tooth repeatedly swell and hurt
- Those whose wisdom teeth lie sideways, pushing against the front molar or causing cavities
- Those who have been advised to have a tooth extracted by their orthodontist
- Those who were told their wisdom tooth is close to the nerve canal and were advised to go to a large hospital
- Those who need their wisdom teeth taken care of before orthognathic (double jaw) surgery or contouring surgery
Do I really have to have my wisdom teeth removed?
If the tooth has erupted straight, can be brushed, and causes no problems, it can be left in place. Removal is recommended if it is lying sideways or only partly erupted so that food gets trapped and the gums swell, if it is causing decay or resorption in the tooth in front of it, or if there is a cyst.
How are impacted wisdom teeth removed?
The gum is opened and part of the bone covering the wisdom tooth is removed. If needed, the tooth is divided into several pieces and taken out. If the tooth is in contact with the nerve canal, a method that removes only the crown first and leaves the roots (coronectomy) may be used.
Why do I need a 3D CT scan?
On a panoramic X-ray alone, the wisdom tooth roots and the nerve canal appear to overlap, so the actual distance cannot be determined. Checking the direction and number of roots and their position relative to the nerve canal with 3D CT can reduce the risk of altered sensation and shorten extraction time.
How painful is it after extraction?
After impacted tooth extraction, swelling and pain last 2–3 days, and most people feel much better within about a week. Symptoms are managed with prescribed medication. In rare cases, the bone at the extraction site is exposed and causes severe pain (dry socket); this is treated with wound cleaning and dressing.
When Dr. Lee Recommends Treatment
Whether to recommend wisdom tooth extraction is decided by diagnosis, not by photos or trends. Below are the criteria Dr. Lee actually uses in consultations, in his own words.
Rather than operating on more patients, I wanted to listen fully to each person's story, think it through myself, and stay with them responsibly from surgery through recovery.
I try to be straightforward and plain: I explain why something can be done and why something cannot.
Tests and Preparation Before Your Consultation
The scope of treatment is decided by examination results. At your first visit, we review the items below, then explain which treatments are needed and which are not.
| Test | What We Look At |
|---|---|
| Panoramic X-ray · 3D CT | We check the tooth roots, jawbone, nerve canal, and surrounding structures. |
| Oral Examination | We directly examine your gum condition, tooth wear, and bite. |
| Medical History Review | We ask about any medications you take (blood thinners, osteoporosis medication, etc.) and any systemic conditions. |
What to Bring
- X-rays and CT scans from your previous dentist (if available)
- Names of medications you are taking — especially blood thinners, osteoporosis medication, and diabetes medication
- Systemic conditions · pregnancy status
- A note of the areas that bother you and when it started
How Your Care Proceeds
- 01
Test
Check the wisdom tooth position and its relationship to the nerve canal with panoramic X-ray and 3D CT
- 02
Extraction
Extraction under local anesthesia (or sedation) takes 10–40 minutes, followed by stitches
- 03
Recovery
Gauze pressure for 2 hours, ice packs, prescribed medication
- 04
Suture Removal
Suture removal and wound check after about 1 week
Wisdom Tooth Extraction Schedule and Recovery at a Glance
Basic information on treatment time, anesthesia, and recovery is summarized in the table. The actual schedule may vary depending on your diagnosis and individual condition, and will be explained again at your first visit.
| Item | Notice |
|---|---|
| Duration | Simple extraction 10 min · Impacted 20–40 min |
| Anesthesia | Local anesthesia · sedation (sleep anesthesia) if needed |
| Suture Removal | About 1 week |
| Swelling | Peaks on days 2–3 and improves around the 1-week mark |
| Extraction in a single visit | Up to 2 teeth recommended on the same side, upper and lower |
| Insurance | Covered by insurance (CT and sedation are conditional) |
After extraction, bleeding, swelling, pain, difficulty opening the mouth, infection, and dry socket may occur. If a lower wisdom tooth is close to the nerve canal, changes in sensation in the lower lip or tongue may occur temporarily or, rarely, persist. Upper wisdom teeth may connect with the maxillary sinus. All surgeries and procedures may involve side effects such as bleeding, swelling, bruising, altered sensation, infection, asymmetry, and the possibility of revision surgery, and results and recovery speed vary from person to person. Please be sure to tell us about any systemic conditions, medications you are taking, and pregnancy during your consultation.
The doctor who consulted with you oversees your wisdom tooth extraction from start to finish
At The Barunface, consultation, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up are all handled by one person: Dr. Sang-Hoon Lee, a board-certified oral & maxillofacial surgeon. We do not hand off stages to staff or other doctors.
Because the doctor who performs your treatment remembers the concerns you shared and the diagnosis from your first consultation, you can return directly to the doctor who first diagnosed you if any discomfort arises after treatment.
We tell you in advance, as fully as we can, what the process will involve, and we try to be with you as much as possible at the points where you are likely to find it most difficult.
Treatment Standards and Basis
- Doctor in Charge
- Dr. Sang-Hoon Lee, Board-Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
- Diagnosis
- Large FOV CBCT (3D CT) · Panoramic X-ray
- Anesthesia
- Local anesthesia · Conscious sedation · General anesthesia facilities
Wisdom Tooth Extraction FAQ 13 questions
01How much does wisdom tooth extraction cost in Busan?
Wisdom tooth extraction is covered by national health insurance. Your out-of-pocket cost varies depending on the degree of impaction, and CT imaging and sedation may be non-covered depending on insurance criteria. The criteria for non-covered sedation are listed in the fee schedule. The exact total will be provided in writing after diagnosis.
02What are the side effects of wisdom tooth extraction?
After extraction, bleeding, swelling, pain, difficulty opening the mouth, infection, and dry socket may occur. If a lower wisdom tooth is close to the nerve canal, changes in sensation in the lower lip or tongue may occur temporarily or, rarely, persist. Upper wisdom teeth may connect with the maxillary sinus. All surgeries and procedures may involve side effects such as bleeding, swelling, bruising, altered sensation, infection, asymmetry, and the possibility of revision surgery, and results and recovery speed vary from person to person. Please be sure to tell us about any systemic conditions, medications you are taking, and pregnancy during your consultation.
03What are the anesthesia and time involved in wisdom tooth extraction?
The procedure takes about 10 minutes for a simple extraction · 20–40 minutes for an impacted tooth, with local anesthesia · sedation if needed. At The Barunface, Dr. Sang-Hoon Lee, a board-certified oral & maxillofacial surgeon, provides care personally.
04Can all four wisdom teeth be removed at once?
It is possible, but usually the upper and lower teeth on the same side are removed two at a time in two visits to make eating and recovery easier. Sometimes all four are removed at once under sedation.
05What about eating after extraction?
Once the anesthesia wears off, eat soft, cool foods on the opposite side. Avoid straws, smoking, and alcohol for 1 week.
06Can I experience altered sensation?
Lower wisdom teeth close to the nerve canal may carry a possibility of altered sensation, so we check on CT and explain this in advance. Most cases recover within several weeks to months.
07Can I have a tooth extracted during pregnancy?
Unless it is an emergency, it is postponed until after childbirth. If truly necessary, it is done during the stable period (second trimester) after consulting with your obstetrician.
08How much does extraction cost?
With insurance coverage, simple extractions cost around KRW 10,000–20,000, and impacted tooth extractions cost tens of thousands of KRW depending on difficulty. Non-covered CT and sedation are charged separately.
09Can it be removed under sedation?
Yes. We recommend it if you feel significant fear or need several teeth removed at once. You will need a guardian to accompany you.
10When are the stitches removed?
About 1 week later. Dissolvable stitches may also be used.
11My orthodontist told me to have them removed. Can it be done here?
Yes. We perform many wisdom tooth and premolar extractions referred by orthodontists. Please bring a referral note from your orthodontist.
12I was told there is a cyst where the wisdom tooth is. What should I do?
A cyst around an impacted wisdom tooth is removed together with the tooth before it grows larger. Depending on its size, general anesthesia may be needed.
13When can I go back to work after extraction?
Many people rest on the same day after a simple extraction, and for 1–2 days after an impacted tooth extraction.
Costs and what to know before your visit
Costs · Insurance
Wisdom tooth extraction is covered by national health insurance. The patient's co-payment varies depending on the degree of impaction, and CT imaging and sedation may be non-covered depending on insurance criteria. The non-covered criteria for sedation are described in the fee schedule. View non-covered fee schedule
Side effects · Precautions
After extraction, bleeding, swelling, pain, difficulty opening the mouth, infection, and dry socket may occur. If a lower wisdom tooth is close to the nerve canal, changes in sensation in the lower lip or tongue may occur temporarily or, rarely, persist. Upper wisdom teeth may connect with the maxillary sinus. All surgeries and procedures may involve side effects such as bleeding, swelling, bruising, altered sensation, infection, asymmetry, and the possibility of revision surgery, and results and recovery speed vary from person to person. Please be sure to tell us about any systemic conditions, medications you are taking, and pregnancy during your consultation.
This information complies with the Medical Service Act and medical advertising review standards, and treatment results and recovery may vary from person to person. Please make your decision only after consulting with a specialist.
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This content was reviewed by board-certified oral & maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Sang-Hoon Lee, Directorfor medical accuracy · Last reviewed