Wisdom teeth and jaw surgery (cirugía maxilofacial) in Spain

Key rules

• Simple extractions: Dentists handle simple extractions, usually privately.
• Complex cases: Complicated cases go to a hospital maxillofacial service, by referral from your family doctor.
• Waiting: Public waits can run to weeks or months at each stage, and differ by region.
• Private quote: Get a written quote before private surgery, because prices vary by clinic and city.

Which route fits your problem

Simple extractions are handled by dentists, usually privately. Complex cases, such as badly impacted wisdom teeth, cysts, infections or jaw problems, go through a hospital maxillofacial service. You reach it by referral from the public system, with waits, or you can go privately.

The public route

Public health care does not cover routine dental care for adults. It does treat some oral surgery. Hospital maxillofacial services (cirugía oral y maxilofacial) deal with complicated impacted wisdom teeth, cysts and tumours, infections, facial injuries, jaw deformities and jaw-joint problems.

Wisdom teeth are normally treated in public care only when there are serious complications or a medical risk. Routine removal is generally done privately. Many regions also offer basic dental care, such as extractions and urgent care, at health centres. Ask your health centre what yours offers.

Do it in this order:

1. See your family doctor (médico de familia) at your health centre.
2. The doctor may first send you for a dental check at the centre.
3. The doctor then refers you to the hospital's maxillofacial service, which gives you an outpatient appointment.
4. The specialist assesses you. If you need surgery, you go on the surgical waiting list.

You need public health coverage to use this route.

How long you will wait

Waits vary a lot between regions and hospitals. Expect several weeks or months for each stage: first consultation, then surgery. Non-urgent cases wait longest. Urgent cases and suspected tumours are prioritised. Ask at each stage how long the next one will take. Criteria and services differ by region and hospital.

The private route

A dentist or an oral surgeon examines you first. An oral surgeon is a dentist with extra training, or a maxillofacial surgeon. Expect a panoramic X-ray or a CBCT scan.

Surgery usually happens in the clinic under local anaesthetic. Complex cases may use sedation or general anaesthetic in a hospital.

Typical prices:

• Simple wisdom-tooth extraction: roughly €60 to €200 each.
• Complex impacted tooth: about €150 to €400.
• Sedation or hospital fees cost extra.

Prices vary by city and clinic, so get a written quote before you agree. Private health insurance may cover some oral surgery, depending on your policy, so check before booking.

Which to choose

Go public if you have a complication, infection or medical risk and can wait. Go private for routine removal, or if you want a faster date. The checklist and questions below walk through the steps.

Checklist

• Ask the doctor for a referral to the hospital's maxillofacial service if your problem is complicated.

• Attend the dental check at the health centre if the doctor asks for one first.

• Go to the outpatient appointment with the maxillofacial specialist.

• Ask the specialist whether you need surgery and whether you will go on the surgical waiting list.

• Ask how long the wait is for the next stage.

• Get a written quote from a dentist or oral surgeon if you prefer to go privately, since simple extractions are handled by dentists.

Check the referral steps and waiting times with your health centre, as they differ by region and hospital.

Frequently asked questions

Will public healthcare remove my wisdom teeth?

Usually not, because public care removes wisdom teeth only when there are serious complications or a medical risk. Routine removal is generally done privately. Complicated impacted teeth, cysts and infections are handled by the hospital's maxillofacial service.

How long will I wait for a public maxillofacial appointment?

Waits can run to several weeks or months for each stage, and they vary a lot between regions and hospitals. You wait once for the first consultation and again for surgery if the specialist puts you on the list.

How much does private wisdom-tooth removal cost?

A simple wisdom-tooth extraction costs roughly €60 to €200 privately, and a complex impacted tooth about €150 to €400. Sedation or hospital fees cost extra. Ask for a written quote, and check whether your private insurance covers oral surgery.

Who performs private wisdom-tooth surgery?

A dentist or an oral surgeon does it, meaning a dentist with extra training or a maxillofacial surgeon. They start with a panoramic X-ray or CBCT scan.