Wisdom Teeth Removal for Adults: What You Need to Know About Surgery and Recovery
Isabella Cannon
| 4 min read
Isabella Cannon is a Corporate Communications intern...
Wisdom teeth are the final four of your permanent adult teeth to grow in. They are a third set of molars located at the top and bottom back corners of your mouth. According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 53% of the general population has at least one wisdom tooth. However, it is possible for some people to never develop any wisdom teeth.
Typically, wisdom teeth grow in between the ages 17 to 25 according to the Mayo Clinic. Many people experience symptoms such as jaw pain and swelling at the back areas of their mouth when they first appear.
Why do wisdom teeth need to be removed?
When undealt with, wisdom teeth may cause problems that worsen over time including pain, infection and damage to neighboring teeth. The most common reasons for wisdom teeth removal are:
- Impacted wisdom teeth
- Crowded wisdom teeth
- Cavities or gum disease
According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, impacted wisdom teeth occur because of a lack of space, obstruction, or abnormal position and can cause inflammatory dental disease.
Oral surgery risks to be aware of
According to the Mayo Clinic, serious complications with wisdom teeth happen less often in younger adults. Older adults have a higher risk of complications after surgery. However, getting wisdom teeth removed as an adult can save you from pain, infections or cavity fillings.
Surgical complications may include:
- Nerve and blood vessel damage.
- Infection from bacteria or trapped food particles.
- Damage to surrounding teeth, jawbone, or sinuses.
- Dry socket: when a blood clot at the site where the tooth was removed does not form, comes out or dissolves before the wound has healed.
According to the Mayo Clinic, dry socket can cause intense pain that occurs one to three days after a tooth removal when the underlying bone and nerves are exposed. Sharp pain occurs in the socket and the nerves along your face as the socket becomes swollen and irritated by food or drink.
How to prepare for wisdom teeth removal
If you need your wisdom teeth removed, your dentist will refer you to an oral surgeon who will do the procedure. Before your surgery:
- Discuss health concerns or drug usage with your dentist or oral surgeon.
- Ask questions about what type of anesthesia you’ll receive and whether you can have anything to eat or drink a few hours prior.
- Arrange your schedule for your surgery and have someone lined up to drive you home after so you can take the necessary time to rest.
The surgery process
You can expect your surgery to take 45 minutes to an hour. Some procedures are done while you are awake and others while you are asleep. The oral surgeon will likely give you one of these types of anesthesia to numb the pain during the removal:
- Local: Your doctor will numb your mouth with a shot of a local anesthetic such as novocaine, lidocaine or mepivacaine near where the wisdom tooth is being removed. Before you get a shot, your dentist or surgeon likely will apply a medicine to your gums that will make the injection more comfortable. This allows for the pain-free delivery of dental treatment even while awake.
- Sedation: The surgeon will numb your mouth and give you drugs through an IV to a vein in your arm to make you drowsy or fall asleep during the procedure. You shouldn’t feel any pain or remember much about the procedure.
- General: You can get drugs through an IV or breathe gas in through a mask. On general anesthesia, you’ll be deeply asleep the whole time and might not wake up until an hour or so after the surgery.
When removing your wisdom tooth, your dentist or oral surgeon first cuts the gum tissue to expose the tooth and bone. At times, they need to remove bone that blocks access to the tooth root. Next, they remove the tooth, clean the area, stitch the wound closed if needed and put gauze over the area where the wisdom tooth was removed to absorb the bleeding.
Wisdom Teeth Removal Recovery
Follow your dentist’s recommendation after surgery. Some common recovery practices include:
- Avoid spiting or drinking through a straw.
- Replace fresh gauze over bleeding area.
- Take over-the-counter medication to relieve pain.
- Keep your head elevated and use ice packs for facial swelling.
- Don’t drink alcoholic, caffeinated, carbonated or hot beverages in the first 24 hours.
- Don’t eat hard, chewy, hot or spicy foods that might get stuck in the socket or irritate the wound.
- Eat soft foods.
- Don't brush your teeth or use mouthwash during the first 24 hours after surgery.
Most adults fully recover within one to two weeks after wisdom teeth removal and have mild pain, swelling and bruising. Let your dentist or surgeon know if you have more severe complications such as extreme pain, signs of infection, fever or loss of feeling in your tongue or face.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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Medically Reviewed by: Dr. Crystal Lee, M.D.
