Procedure · Oral Surgery
Wisdom teeth removal NHS waiting times
Waiting-list data: July 2026Published by NHS England on · next release expected 8 October 2026 · sources
Removing impacted or problematic wisdom teeth in hospital, usually by oral surgery teams when a dentist cannot do it. On the NHS it is carried out by oral surgery teams. In July 2026, half of the 319,386 people waiting for oral surgery in England had waited longer than 15.9 weeks.
Median wait, oral surgery
15.9 weeks
▼ −0.1 wk vs previous month
Waiting under 18 weeks
54.2%
▼ −0.8pp vs previous month
NHS standard: 92%
People waiting in England
319,386
▼ −1,166 vs previous month
Waiting over 52 weeks
7,716
Thinking of paying privately?
Published self-pay prices for wisdom teeth removal at the main UK private hospital groups start from £726 (up to about £3,642).
Shortest oral surgery waits in England
Providers with at least 500 patients waiting, sorted by median wait so far (July 2026). Includes independent hospitals that treat NHS patients.
| Hospital / provider | Median | Under 18 wks |
|---|---|---|
| Guy's and St Thomas'London | 7.5 weeks | 81.1% |
| Barking, Havering and Redbridge University HospitalsLondon | 8.2 weeks | 80.3% |
| Royal BerkshireSouth East | 8.4 weeks | 86.6% |
| Imperial College HealthcareLondon | 8.8 weeks | 83.4% |
| Royal Cornwall HospitalsSouth West | 9.2 weeks | 73.5% |
| Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre - Devizes | 9.5 weeks | 86.1% |
| Buckinghamshire HealthcareSouth East | 9.6 weeks | 72.5% |
| North Cumbria Integrated CareNorth West | 9.9 weeks | 80.7% |
| Leeds Teaching HospitalsYorkshire & the Humber | 10.1 weeks | 74.2% |
| University Hospitals of Derby and BurtonEast Midlands | 10.1 weeks | 74.1% |
| Tameside and Glossop Integrated CareNorth West | 10.4 weeks | 69.1% |
| Mid Yorkshire TeachingYorkshire & the Humber | 10.5 weeks | 71.4% |
Oral Surgery waits by region
Share of patients waiting under 18 weeks, July 2026.
- North East & Yorkshire66.1%4,654 waiting
- London61.3%55,307 waiting
- South West57.7%27,868 waiting
- Yorkshire & the Humber57.0%23,692 waiting
- North West53.8%47,347 waiting
- West Midlands52.6%35,929 waiting
- East Midlands50.0%21,558 waiting
- East of England48.4%38,395 waiting
- South East48.2%51,230 waiting
Oral Surgery in England, last 13 months
% waiting under 18 weeks
Show month-by-month figures
| Month | Waiting | Within 18 wks | Over 52 wks |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 319,386 | 54.2% | 7,716 |
| June 2026 | 320,552 | 55.0% | 7,441 |
| May 2026 | 322,030 | 55.4% | 7,426 |
| April 2026 | 321,516 | 54.9% | 7,445 |
| March 2026 | 320,612 | 55.6% | 7,091 |
| February 2026 | 322,932 | 53.6% | 9,136 |
| January 2026 | 318,440 | 52.4% | 10,023 |
| December 2025 | 318,622 | 51.8% | 10,611 |
| November 2025 | 314,455 | 51.6% | 11,692 |
| October 2025 | 317,880 | 50.9% | 12,722 |
| September 2025 | 319,102 | 50.9% | 12,866 |
| August 2025 | 321,708 | 50.5% | 13,132 |
| July 2025 | 323,107 | 51.1% | 13,020 |
Waiting a long time for wisdom teeth removal?
In England you can usually choose which hospital you are referred to, including independent hospitals that treat NHS patients.
How the right to choose worksQuestions about wisdom teeth removal waits
How long is the NHS waiting list for wisdom teeth removal?
NHS England does not publish waits for individual operations. Wisdom teeth removal is managed by oral surgery teams: in July 2026, 319,386 people in England were waiting for oral surgery treatment, half had waited longer than 15.9 weeks and 54.2% had waited under 18 weeks. Waits vary a lot between hospitals.
Which hospitals have the shortest waits for wisdom teeth removal?
Among larger providers, the shortest oral surgery median waits in July 2026 were at Guy's and St Thomas' (7.5 weeks), Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals (8.2 weeks), Royal Berkshire (8.4 weeks). Check the provider treats your condition before asking to be referred there.
Can I get wisdom teeth removal faster on the NHS?
In England you can usually choose which hospital you are referred to, including independent hospitals that treat NHS patients. Choosing a provider with a shorter list is the main legitimate way to be treated sooner.
Can I pay for wisdom teeth removal privately?
Yes. Private hospitals publish their own self-pay prices, which vary by hospital and by what is included (consultations, scans, follow-up). Ask for a fixed all-inclusive price and check the hospital on the Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN).
Sources: NHS England statistics on referral to treatment (RTT) waiting times (July 2026), A&E attendances (August 2026), diagnostic waiting times (DM01) and cancer waiting times, published 10 September 2026; hospital sites from the nhs.uk organisation data. Figures are checked against the official national totals before every update.
NHSQueue is an independent website and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NHS. How we use the data · Report an error · Photo credits