If you’re wondering what it’s like to have an impacted wisdom tooth removed in Cebu at age 40, here’s a quick summary of my experience:
| Category | My Experience |
| Age | 40 |
| Location | Cebu |
| Teeth Removed | Upper right and lower right wisdom teeth |
| Impacted? | Yes (lower right) |
| Procedure Length | Less than 1 hour |
| Surgery Cost | ₱15,000 |
| Medication Cost | ₱700.75 |
| Total Cost | Approximately ₱16,700 |
| Recovery to Normal Eating | About 4 days |
| Weight Lost During Recovery | 3 kg |
The extraction itself was manageable. The most difficult part was eating during recovery. I lost 3 kilograms in less than a week and even struggled to enjoy a buffet I attended shortly afterward. I can’t say the weight loss isn’t a nice side effect.
Why I Needed My Wisdom Teeth Removed
Early on in February, I noticed a mild but unusual pain while chewing on the right side of my jaw.
It wasn’t a severe toothache. In fact, I rarely experience tooth pain, which is why the sensation instantly caught my attention.
My child already had a dental appointment scheduled, so I asked his dentist to examine my wisdom teeth as well. (That check-up cost P600).
Years earlier, I had an impacted wisdom tooth removed on my lower left side. I suspected the remaining wisdom tooth could be causing problems.
After an examination and quick X-ray, my son’s dentist confirmed that my lower right wisdom tooth was impacted.
The tooth also had cavities that would be difficult to treat because of its position. More importantly, it was beginning to affect the surrounding gum tissue. It could eventually damage the neighboring molar if left untreated.
Although there was no visible swelling, extraction was recommended.
Cost of Wisdom Tooth Extraction in Cebu
Here is my actual cost breakdown.
| Expense | Cost |
| Extraction of Two Wisdom Teeth | ₱15,000 |
| Medications (Hemostan, Orahex, Arcoxia, Amoxicillin) | ₱700.75 |
| Consultation and X-ray | Less than ₱1,000 |
| Estimated Total | Approximately ₱16,700 |
Note: The original plan was to remove only the impacted lower right wisdom tooth. During the procedure, my dentist recommended removing the upper right wisdom tooth as well. With my consent, she explained that extracting the upper tooth would help achieve a better bite. This would occur after the lower wisdom tooth was removed. Since I was already undergoing surgery, it made sense to handle both at the same time.
Your costs vary depending on:
- Number of teeth removed
- Whether the wisdom tooth is impacted
- Complexity of the extraction
- Clinic location (mine was located near Cebu IT Park)
- Dentist’s specialization
Preparing for Surgery
After reviewing my X-ray, the dentist scheduled the procedure for February 13.
I was prescribed:
- Hemostan
- Orahex
- Arcoxia
- Amoxicillin
I purchased the medications in advance and took them about an hour before my 1:30 PM appointment as instructed.
Although I felt nervous, this wasn’t my first wisdom tooth extraction.
My previous impacted wisdom tooth had been removed back in 2017. At the time, the procedure cost around ₱8,000, excluding the X-ray, although I no longer remember the exact imaging fee.
Going into this second extraction, I assumed the experience would be similar. After all, I had been through it before and recovered without any major issues.
What I didn’t consider was that nearly a decade had passed.
The Procedure
The dentist decided to remove both the upper and lower wisdom teeth on the right side during the same appointment.
The procedure took less than an hour.
However, it was noticeably more difficult than my first extraction.
During surgery, the lower wisdom tooth fractured and had to be removed in multiple pieces. The cleanup process took longer than expected. There was significantly more bleeding than I remembered from my first wisdom tooth extraction nine years earlier.
This extraction felt more complicated than the one I underwent in my early thirties. The dentist said that age was a big factor..
Wisdom Tooth Recovery Timeline
Day 1
- Followed all post-operative instructions
- Applied cold compresses
- Ate only soft foods
- Experienced bleeding and discomfort
- Focused on rest
Days 2–3
- Eating became the biggest challenge
- Continued taking prescribed medications
- Avoided hard, crunchy, and hot foods
- Followed all cleaning instructions carefully
Day 4
- Significant improvement
- Able to eat much more normally
- Chewing became easier
- Daily activities felt more manageable
After Day 4
- Recovery continued steadily
- Returned to a more normal diet
- Overall discomfort decreased considerably
The Hardest Part of Recovery
Surprisingly, the hardest part wasn’t pain.
It was food.
I underestimated how difficult it would be to eat comfortably during recovery.
The reduced food intake resulted in a 3-kilogram weight loss within the first week.
The most frustrating moment came when my family attended a buffet only a few days after the extraction. I survived it, but I would have loved to eat that day.
Everyone else enjoyed the spread. I spent most of the meal figuring out what I could safely eat. I wanted to make sure nothing irritated the extraction site. Yogurt, various types of soup, juices, shakes.
Looking back, it seems funny.
But at the time, I came to a point when I was starting to dream of food.
Post-Operative Instructions I Followed
My dentist instructed me to:
- Use cold compresses during the first 24 hours
- Switch to warm compresses after 24 hours
- Eat only soft foods
- Avoid straws (I’m not a big fan of them anyway.)
- Avoid vigorous spitting
- Avoid strenuous exercise
- Gargle with Orahex after meals
Since I followed my dentist’s instructions closely, recovery was fast and smooth. The dentist removed the suture after 7 days.
FAQs
How much does wisdom tooth extraction cost in Cebu?
My extraction of two wisdom teeth cost ₱15,000, excluding medications and consultation fees. My total expenses were approximately ₱16,700.
How long does wisdom tooth recovery take?
In my case, I could eat relatively normally again after about four days.
Was the extraction painful?
The procedure itself was manageable. The bigger challenge was adjusting to eating restrictions during recovery.
Is wisdom tooth extraction harder at 40?
In my experience, yes. This procedure was more complicated than my first extraction in 2017. The tooth fractured and had to be removed in pieces.
Should you wait until the tooth hurts?
Probably not. My symptoms were relatively mild, but the impacted tooth already had cavities and was beginning to affect nearby tissue.
What I Learned
One piece of advice to anyone considering wisdom tooth extraction? It would be this:
Do it sooner rather than later.
The discomfort that pushed me to see a dentist had only been around for about a week. But I knew the underlying problem had been developing for years.
My second piece of advice?
If multiple wisdom teeth need removal, consider having them removed during the same procedure.
Recovery isn’t exactly fun, and personally, I’d rather go through it once than multiple times.
While I don’t regret the extraction, I do wish I had addressed the issue sooner.
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