Wisdom Tooth Removal – Private Vs NHS: Which Option Is Best?

Whites Dental Waterloo

Example Icon 0208 616 0590

Example Icon 172 Blackfriars Rd, London SE1 8ER

Whites Dental Marble Arch (W2)

Example Icon 0203 576 2325

Example Icon 52B Kendal St, St George's Fields, London W2 2BP


Wisdom tooth pain can strike suddenly — often when you least expect it. Whether it’s swelling, infection, or persistent jaw discomfort, deciding where to have your wisdom tooth removed is an important choice. In the UK, patients typically have two main options: NHS wisdom tooth extraction or private wisdom tooth removal.

Both routes can be effective, but the waiting time, treatment comfort, and aftercare experience can vary significantly. In this detailed guide, we’ll explore the key differences between NHS and private wisdom tooth removal, including costs, waiting times, procedure quality, and local availability in London — particularly at Whites Dental Waterloo (SE1) and Whites Dental Marble Arch (W2).

💡 Visit our Wisdom tooth removal clinic in London for an extraction.

What Is Wisdom Tooth Removal?

Wisdom tooth extraction is a common dental procedure to remove one or more of the third molars, located at the back of your mouth. These teeth usually appear between the ages of 17 and 25 and can sometimes cause problems such as:

  • Pain or swelling in the gums
  • Infections around the molar
  • Difficulty opening your mouth
  • Damage to neighbouring teeth

When wisdom teeth become impacted (unable to emerge properly), extraction is often the best treatment to prevent ongoing pain or infection.

At Whites Dental, our dentists in Waterloo and Marble Arch provide both simple and surgical extractions, using the latest techniques and equipment to ensure a safe and comfortable experience.

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Cost Comparison: NHS Vs Private Wisdom Tooth Removal

One of the first factors patients consider is cost. Let’s look at how NHS and private dental treatment compare.

NHS Wisdom Tooth Removal Cost

Wisdom tooth extraction under the NHS typically falls under Band 2 dental treatment, which costs £73.50 (as of 2025) in England. However:

  • Not all wisdom teeth qualify for NHS removal — only if clinically necessary (e.g. infection, cyst, or persistent pain).
  • You may need a referral to an NHS oral surgery clinic or hospital, which can involve a waiting time of weeks or even months.
  • The treatment is functional but may not include additional comforts such as advanced pain control options or sedation.

Private Wisdom Tooth Removal Cost

Private wisdom tooth extraction in London varies based on complexity:

  • Simple extraction: from £150–£250 per tooth
  • Surgical extraction: from £250–£450 per tooth
  • Complex or impacted cases: up to £650 per tooth

At Whites Dental, we offer transparent private dentistry pricing and can often provide same-day or next-day appointments for urgent cases. Private treatment also includes shorter waiting times, customised pain management and personalised aftercare.

💡 Key Takeaway: If you’re in pain or can’t wait for NHS availability, private extraction ensures faster relief, flexible appointments and a more comfortable experience overall.

NHS Waiting Times Vs Private Appointments

Perhaps the biggest difference between NHS and private dental care is how long you have to wait.

NHS Waiting Times

  • You’ll first need an NHS dentist appointment for assessment.
  • If the extraction is complex, your dentist may refer you to an NHS oral surgeon.
  • Hospital waiting lists for surgical removal can stretch from several weeks to a few months, depending on demand and urgency.
  • In the meantime, you may be prescribed antibiotics or pain relief — but the underlying problem remains.

Private Waiting Times

At Whites Dental Waterloo (SE1) and Marble Arch (W2), we understand that wisdom tooth pain can’t wait.

  • Same-day or next-day appointments are often available for emergency extractions.
  • We can arrange digital X-rays immediately, diagnose the issue, and perform the extraction in one visit if appropriate.
  • Private care allows for a faster recovery due to tailored treatment and continuity of care.

💡 Key Takeaway: If you’re suffering from ongoing pain, swelling or infection, private treatment saves valuable time and prevents complications from delayed extraction.

Comfort, Sedation & Pain Control

Pain management and comfort levels vary considerably between NHS and private dental clinics.

NHS Comfort Level

  • Standard local anaesthetic is used to numb the extraction area.
  • Sedation (to reduce anxiety) is typically only available in hospital settings for complex cases.
  • Appointment time may be limited, focusing mainly on the extraction rather than comfort extras.

Private Comfort Level

At Whites Dental, we prioritise patient comfort and anxiety-free treatment:

  • Local anaesthetic plus sedation options (if required).
  • Relaxed, modern environment with advanced equipment.
  • More time for consultation, explanation and gentle care.

💡 Key Takeaway: If you’re nervous about dental treatment or have a complex case, private extraction provides greater comfort, sedation options, and a more personalised approach.

Quality Of Care & Aftercare Support

NHS Aftercare

  • Standard aftercare advice is provided post-treatment.
  • Follow-up appointments may be limited.
  • For any post-op complications, you might need to book another NHS slot or call the emergency line.

Private Aftercare

At Whites Dental, aftercare is built into the treatment experience:

  • We offer follow-up checks to monitor healing and manage any discomfort.
  • 24-hour contact in case of post-extraction concerns.
  • Tailored home-care advice and healing support (oral rinses, dietary tips, and pain management).

💡 Key Takeaway: Private dental care gives you continuity and reassurance — your dentist remains accessible throughout recovery, ensuring peace of mind.

Who Qualifies For NHS Wisdom Tooth Removal?

It’s important to note that not everyone qualifies for NHS-funded wisdom tooth extraction.
The NHS will only cover the cost if:

  • The tooth is infected, impacted or causing damage to surrounding teeth
  • There’s a cyst, abscess or other pathology present.
  • Recurrent pericoronitis (inflammation of gum tissue around the tooth) occurs.

If your wisdom tooth is growing normally, even with mild discomfort, you might not be eligible for NHS treatment and you’ll need to go private if you wish to proceed.

Wisdom Tooth Removal At Whites Dental Waterloo & Marble Arch

At Whites Dental, we’re proud to serve patients from across Central London, with two conveniently located clinics offering private wisdom tooth extractions:

Whites Dental Waterloo (SE1)

📍 172 Blackfriars Rd, London SE1 8ER
📞 020 8616 0590
Located near Southbank, Waterloo, and London Bridge, our SE1 clinic offers fast access to same-day dental care for patients in Central and South London.

Whites Dental Marble Arch (W2)

📍 52B Kendal St, St George’s Fields, London W2 2BP
📞 020 3576 2325
Our Marble Arch clinic serves patients in West London, including Mayfair, Paddington and Marylebone, offering gentle and expert wisdom tooth removal in a calm and welcoming setting.

Whether you need a simple extraction or surgical procedure, our experienced dentists use modern imaging, minimally invasive techniques and tailored aftercare for a smooth recovery.

💡 Book a wisdom tooth removal appointment at Whites Dental.

Realistic Scenarios: When Private Care Makes Sense

While NHS dental care is invaluable, there are many cases where private wisdom tooth extraction is the more practical and beneficial choice:

  1. You’re in severe pain and need immediate relief.
  2. You’ve been referred to an NHS hospital but can’t wait months for treatment.
  3. You want sedation to ease anxiety or discomfort.
  4. You need flexible appointment times, including evenings or weekends.
  5. You prefer continuity — seeing the same dentist for consultation, treatment, and aftercare.

Choosing our private dental care at Whites Dental ensures you receive high-quality, prompt treatment without long waiting lists or uncertainty.

NHS Vs Private Wisdom Tooth Extraction – Quick Comparison Table

FeatureNHSPrivate (Whites Dental)
EligibilityOnly if medically necessaryAvailable to all
Cost£73.50 (Band 2)£200–£600 depending on complexity
Waiting TimeWeeks to monthsOften same or next day
Pain ControlLocal anaestheticLocal + sedation options
AftercareLimitedFull follow-up & support
ComfortBasic clinical settingModern, relaxed environment
FlexibilityLimited hoursEvening/weekend availability

Why Choose Whites Dental For Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

At Whites Dental, patient comfort, safety and convenience are at the heart of everything we do.
Here’s why so many patients in London trust us for private wisdom tooth removal:

  • Experienced clinicians in both simple and surgical extractions
  • State-of-the-art imaging for accurate diagnosis
  • Same-day emergency appointments available
  • Sedation options for nervous patients
  • Personalised aftercare and recovery support
  • Two convenient Central London locations – Waterloo (SE1) and Marble Arch (W2)

Whether you’re facing ongoing discomfort or an urgent wisdom tooth infection, our friendly and skilled dental teams are here to help you get back to feeling your best — quickly and comfortably.

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Final Thoughts

Both the NHS and private sectors offer safe and effective wisdom tooth removal. However, your choice will depend on how quickly you need treatment, your comfort preferences and your eligibility for NHS funding.

If you’re in Central London and seeking expert, same-day care, visit us at:

  • Whites Dental Waterloo (SE1) – 172 Blackfriars Rd, London SE1 8ER
  • Whites Dental Marble Arch (W2) – 52B Kendal St, St George’s Fields, London W2 2BP

Experience comfortable, modern and compassionate wisdom tooth removal — without the long NHS waiting times.

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Whites Dental
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Privacy Overview

Whites Dental (“we”, “us” or “our”) are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy.

The practice respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy sets out how we will do this, taking into account data protection laws as well as our professional guidelines and requirements.

The data controller is Whites Dental; the Information Governance Lead is Deepa Chopra.

This Privacy Policy is available on the practice website at www.whitesdental.co.uk/privacy-policy, by email if you contact [email protected] or by calling the practice on 0204 527 3210.

This policy (together with our Cookies Policy) sets out the basis on which any personal data we collect, or that you provide to us, will be processed by us. It does not include data where the identity has been removed (i.e. anonymous data).

Please read the following carefully to understand our views and practices regarding your personal data and how we will treat it.

You will be asked to provide personal information when joining the practice. The purpose of us processing this data is to provide optimum health care to you by, for example, recommending the most relevant treatment and ensuring your safety by taking your medical history.

The categories of data we process

  • Contact data (such as name, address, email address, telephone number) for the purposes of corresponding with you, for example, regarding your appointments and treatment.
  • Contact data (such as name, address, email address, telephone number) for the purposes of direct mail/email/text/marketing.
  • Special category data concerning health (including health records, medical history, medication, your doctor’s name and address, warning cards or bracelets, alcohol and drug use) for the purposes of the delivery of safe health care.
  • Treatment data (such as photos, moulds, X-rays, clinical findings) for the purposes of providing you with the best treatment.
  • Financial data (such as credit card details, bank account information, credit history, employment status) for the purposes of processing your payment for treatment(s).
  • Usage data (such as information about how you use our website, products and services) for the purposes of improving the way we provide our treatment and services.

The ways we collect information about you

We may collect and process the following data about you in operating the website and performing any of our services and treatment(s):

Direct
  • Information you give us (including information you give to our Clinical Lead, Specialists, Dentists, Hygienists and Orthodontic Therapists who are contracted to work for us). You may give us information about you by filling in forms on our website www.whitesdental.co.uk or by corresponding with us by phone, email, in person or otherwise.
  • Personal data is obtained when a patient joins the practice, when a patient is referred to the practice and when a patient subscribes to an email list.
Automatic
  • Information we automatically collect about you. With regard to each of your visits to our website we may automatically collect the following information:
  • Technical information, including the internet protocol (IP) address used to connect your computer to the internet, your login information, browser type and version, time zone setting, browser plugin types and versions, operating system and platform; and
  • Information about your visit, including the full Uniform Resource Locators (URL) clickstream to, through and from our site (including date and time); products you viewed or searched for; page response times, download errors, length of visits to certain pages, page interaction information (such as scrolling, clicks, and mouseovers), and methods used to browse away from the page and any phone number used to call our customer service number.
From third parties
  • Our Clinical Lead, Specialists, Dentists, Hygienists and Orthodontic Therapists are third parties working for us as contractors, however, they are contractually bound to us with regard to obligations of confidentiality in the same way as our employees and by professional obligations of confidentiality.
  • You may have been referred to us for treatment from Invisalign and we will therefore receive contact data, special category data concerning health, treatment data and/or financial data from them.
  • Information we receive from other sources. We may receive information about you if you use any of the other websites we operate or the other services we provide.
  • We are also working closely with third parties (including, for example, business partners, subcontractors in technical, payment and delivery services, advertising networks, analytics providers, search information providers, credit reference agencies) and may receive information about you from them.
  • We use third-party analytics services (such as Google Analytics) to evaluate your use of the website, compile reports on activity, collect demographic data, analyze performance metrics, and collect and evaluate other information relating to our website and internet usage. These third parties use cookies and other technologies to help analyse and provide us with data.

How we share data with third parties

We may share your Contact data, special category of data relating to health, Financial data, Treatment data and/or Usage data with selected third parties including:

  • Our Clinical Lead, Specialists, Dentists, Hygienists and Orthodontic Therapists.
  • Private health insurance companies (at your request if you are using private health insurance).
  • Credit reference agencies.
  • Equipment providers and laboratories such as Align Tech, Nimrodental, and Ashford Orthodontics.
  • Professional compliance organisations such as BDA.
  • Data storage and transfer platforms such as Microsoft Sharepoint and Dropbox.
  • Our payment platform Natwest.
  • Our practice management and CRM software providers Pearl.
  • Our live chat provider Quriobot.
  • Advertisers and advertising networks that require the data to select and serve relevant adverts to you and others such as Facebook.
  • Analytics and search engine providers that assist us in the improvement and optimisation of our site such as Google.

This is a list of the main third parties with whom we share your personal data. If you would like a full list of third parties who process your data, and their contact details, please contact us using the details set out above.

We never pass your personal details to a third party unless we have a contract for them to process data on our behalf and will otherwise keep it confidential.

If we intend to refer a patient to another practitioner or to secondary care such as a hospital we will gain your consent before the referral is made and the personal data is shared.

The website may include links to third party websites, plugins and applications. Clicking on those links or enabling those connections may allow third parties to collect or share data about you. We do not control these third party websites and are not responsible for their privacy statements. When you leave our website, we encourage you to read the privacy notice of every website you visit.

Data transferred outside the EU

  • Personal data is stored in the EU whether in digital or hard copy format.
  • Personal data is stored in the US in digital format when the data storage company is certified with the EU-US Privacy Shield.

Lawful basis for processing personal data

The lawful bases for processing personal data (including providing your personal data to third parties) are:

  • Consent of the data subject for data relating to treatment, care, our services, processing payment, credit checks, marketing and reviews, improving our services and improving our website (including using data analytics). This will also apply to the storage of personal data for these purposes.
  • Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract with the data subject or to take steps to enter into a contract such as the provision of the services by us.
  • Processing is necessary to comply with a legal obligation such as financial, tax and contractual laws.

For consent relating to children and people who may not have mental capacity to give consent, please contact us using the details above for a copy of our Safeguarding and Mental Capacity policies.

The reason for processing special category data such as patients’ health data is:

  • The processing is necessary for the purposes of preventative or occupational medicine, for assessing the working capacity of the employee, medical diagnosis, the provision of health or social care or treatment or management of health or social care systems and services on the basis of Union or Member State law or a contract with a health professional; and
  • Data is processed by or under the responsibility of a professional subject to the obligation of professional secrecy under Union or Member State law or rules established by national competent bodies or by another person also subject to an obligation of secrecy under Union or Member State law or rules established by national competent bodies.

Purposes for processing personal data

We (and the third parties listed above) process your personal data for the following purposes:

  • To provide you with our services.
  • To discuss relevant treatments.
  • To provide a safe working environment for staff, contractors and patients.
  • To check your employment and financial status for payment plans.
  • To process payments.
  • To keep you informed of our latest offers, other services we provide and general marketing activities.
  • To obtain reviews and feedback on your experience of our services.
  • To store our data.

If you would like more information about how your data is processed please contact us by using the details set out above.

Data retention

The retention period for special category data in patient records is a minimum of 10 years and may be longer for complex records in order to meet our legal requirements. The retention periods for other personal data is two years after it was last processed.

You will receive marketing emails until you unsubscribe, either by contacting us or by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email. For details of other retention periods please contact us using the details set out above.

Your personal data rights

You have the following personal data rights:

  • The right to be informed.
  • The right of access to your personal data, which enables you to receive a copy of the personal data we hold about you and to check that we are lawfully processing it.
  • The right to rectification of your personal data that you consider to be inaccurate. This enables you to have any incomplete or inaccurate data we hold about you corrected.
  • The right to erasure. This enables you to ask us to delete or remove your personal data (however clinical records must be retained for a certain time period).
  • The right to restrict processing. This gives you the option to ask us to suspend the processing of your personal data e.g. if you want us to establish the data’s accuracy or you do not want us to erase it.
  • The right to data portability. If you request us to do so, we will provide to you, or a third party of your choice, your personal data in a commonly used, machine-readable format.
  • The right to object. This enables you to object to the processing of your personal data if you feel it impacts on your fundamental rights and freedoms, however, in some cases, we may have compelling legitimate grounds to process your information which can override your right to object.
  • The right to request confirmation as to whether or not your personal data is being processed.
  • The right to not have a decision made about you based solely on automated processing.

You have the right to withdraw consent at any time. If you request us to do so, we will no longer process your data. However, this will not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before you withdraw your consent. If you withdraw your consent, we will not be able to provide you with the services. You have the right to obtain a free copy of your patient records within one month of submitting a request.

If you are not a patient of the practice you have the right to withdraw consent for processing personal data, to have a free copy of it within one month of submitting a request, to correct errors in it or to ask us to delete it. You can also withdraw consent from communication methods such as telephone, email or text.

We have carried out a Privacy Impact Assessment and if you would like a copy please contact us using the details set out above.

If you wish to exercise any of the rights set out above, in the first instance, please contact us using the details set out above.

You will not have to pay a fee to access your personal data (or to exercise any of the other rights). However, we may charge a reasonable fee if your request is clearly unfounded, repetitive or excessive. Alternatively, we may refuse to comply with your request in these circumstances.

We may need to request specific information from you to help us confirm your identity and ensure your right to access your personal data (or to exercise any of your other rights). This is a security measure to ensure that personal data is not disclosed to any person who has no right to receive it. We may also contact you to ask you for further information in relation to your request to speed up our response.

Further details of these rights can be obtained on the Information Commissioner’s website.

Data security

We have put in place appropriate security measures to prevent your personal data from being lost, used or accessed in an unauthorised way, altered or disclosed. In addition, we limit access to your personal data to those employees, agents, contractors and other third parties who have a business need to know. They will only process your personal data on our instructions and they are subject to a duty of confidentiality.

We have put in place procedures to deal with any suspected personal data breach and will notify you and any applicable regulator of a breach where we are legally required to do so.

Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure. Although we will do our best to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee the security of your data transmitted through our website; any transmission is at your own risk. Once we have received your information, we will use strict procedures and security features to try to prevent unauthorised access.

Comments, suggestions and complaints

Please contact the practice for a comment, suggestion or a complaint about your data processing at [email protected], or 0204 527 3210 or by writing to or visiting the practice. We take complaints very seriously.

If you are unhappy with our response or if you need any advice you should contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Their telephone number is 0303 123 1113, you can also find other contact options here. The ICO can investigate your claim and take action against anyone who’s misused personal data. You can also visit their website for information on how to make a data protection complaint.

Marketing by us

We offer individuals real choice and control. Our consent procedures put individuals in charge to build customer trust and engagement.

Our consent for marketing requires a positive opt-in, we don’t use pre-ticked boxes or any other method of default consent. We make it easy for people to withdraw consent, tell you how to and keep contemporaneous evidence of consent. Consent to marketing is never a precondition of a service.

You will receive marketing communications from us if you have requested information from us or if you have signed up via our contact form on the website and, in each case, you have not opted out of receiving that marketing.

Marketing by third parties

We do not share your data with third parties for marketing purposes.

Opting out

Where you opt-out of receiving these marketing messages, this means that you may not receive messages relating to your appointments or treatment so please let us know by using the details set out above if you would like to continue to receive messages about your appointments and treatment.