Treatments
Love teeth: why Koreans name wisdom teeth after first love, and when to take them out
Sarang-ni arrive late, sit awkwardly and sometimes hurt. A traveller’s guide to keeping or removing them.
Not every wisdom tooth has to come out. Removal is usually advised when one is repeatedly inflamed, decaying, pushing on the tooth in front or stuck under the gum (impacted). At Guardians Dental, extractions including impacted teeth are planned from an X-ray, with IV conscious sedation available. Book them early in your trip so you can rest before flying.
The name
In Korean, wisdom teeth are 사랑니 (sarang-ni): love teeth. They tend to appear in the late teens or twenties, around the age of first love, and the joke is that both can hurt. More in our dental phrasebook.
Keep or remove?
| Situation | Usual advice |
|---|---|
| Fully through, cleanable, no pain | Often fine to keep and monitor. |
| Gum keeps swelling over it | Removal usually recommended. |
| Decay in it, or in the tooth in front | Removal usually recommended. |
| Impacted (stuck under gum or bone) | Depends on position; we assess on X-ray. |
On the day
An X-ray shows the roots and their distance from nerves. Most extractions are done under local anaesthetic. If you are anxious, IV conscious sedation keeps you relaxed while you breathe on your own; you rest 30–60 minutes afterwards and should not travel alone that day.
Fitting it into a trip
- Book extraction in your first days, not the day before you fly. See flying after dental work.
- Swelling usually peaks in the first two to three days, then settles.
- Soft, cool food for a couple of days: Myeongdong’s milk ice cream finally has a medical excuse.
- No straws, smoking or alcohol at first: they disturb the healing clot.
Questions people ask
Do all wisdom teeth need to be removed?
No. Healthy, fully erupted wisdom teeth that you can clean are often kept and monitored.
Can I have a wisdom tooth removed under sedation in Seoul?
Yes. IV conscious sedation is available at Guardians Dental. Plan to rest afterwards and not travel alone that day.
How soon can I fly after wisdom tooth removal?
Plan a pause of a few days if you can, and tell us your flight time when you book.
✓Clinically reviewed by Dr. Changmin Lee, periodontist, Guardians Dental Myeongdong, on 15 October 2026. This article is general information for travellers and does not replace an in-person exam.
