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Is Wisdom Teeth Removal Painful? What To Expect

Faris Kirmani • Mar 28, 2022

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Wisdom teeth have a reputation for causing pain, and people worry that wisdom tooth removal may cause them even more discomfort. But are they right to be concerned? Is wisdom teeth removal painful?

Our Riverlands dentist explains.

Why is wisdom teeth removal necessary?

While it’s hard to come by exact figures, it’s estimated that 10 million wisdom teeth are extracted each year. Wisdom teeth are the last set of molars to come in at the back of the mouth, usually when a person is in their late teens or 20s. Because they’re late to the party, most people already have a complete set of permanent adult teeth. As a result, there may be insufficient room in the jaw, leading to tooth crowding and impacted wisdom teeth (when a wisdom tooth cannot erupt through the gums). For this reason, dentists and oral surgeons typically recommend wisdom tooth removal.

But is wisdom teeth removal painful?

In experienced hands, wisdom tooth removal is usually a quick and painless procedure. Our Riverlands dentist ensures patients have sufficient local anaesthesia, so they don’t feel any pain. Typically, the only discomfort a patient should experience is slight pressure as the dentist rocks the tooth forwards and backwards, but they shouldn’t feel pain at any point. The procedure is much the same as for a standard tooth extraction.

If you have an impacted wisdom tooth, it may involve the dentist lifting the gum to access the trapped wisdom tooth. The tooth is then cut into sections to remove it, and the gums stitched back in position. Even then, a patient shouldn’t feel any discomfort during wisdom teeth removal.

The reason for this is a combination of modern sedation methods, the skill of the dentist, and gentle dental techniques.

Having removed hundreds of teeth, dental extractions and wisdom tooth removal are both quick and comfortable when you visit Riverlands Dental. Most extractions take but a few minutes. However, it can take between 20 and 40 minutes to remove impacted wisdom teeth.

While a hospital setting is generally recommended for more complex wisdom tooth removal, we now have a visiting oral surgeon in our practice, so a hospital visit may not be necessary.

Is wisdom teeth removal painful afterwards?

Generally, you can expect to feel some pain and swelling following wisdom teeth removal, especially in the first two days. On rare occasions, complications can arise, such as nerve injury or poor healing of the tooth socket. If you opt for IVA sedation or general sedation, you will need a family member or friend to accompany you to and from the practice. It’s also important to take things easy for a couple of days after the operation.

Once the anaesthesia has worn off, you are likely to feel some pain or discomfort for the first 48 hours following your wisdom tooth removal, but this can usually be eased with over the counter painkillers. It’s important to take painkillers regularly to ensure you get a good night’s sleep which helps maximise recovery. Your mouth will likely feel sore for up to a week after the procedure.

The area around the socket sites will also feel sore, making it difficult for you to clean your teeth. Following instructions for good oral hygiene, eating foods healthily and avoiding smoking will help speed up your recovery.

Expect some swelling

Swelling after wisdom tooth removal is also common, particularly in the cheek area and inside and outside the mouth. Again this will be worse for the first couple of days but will gradually subside. Applying ice packs shortly after surgery will help relieve swelling. You may also experience some bruising of the skin.

Other problems that may occur after wisdom teeth removal include:

Jaw stiffness – You may find it difficult to open your mouth and experience stiffness or pain of the jaw joint. Usually, this disappears after a few days, but it can last up to two weeks. You may find you need to switch to a soft diet for a week or two. Take care not to force your jaw open until it is ready and give it time for the swelling to go down. Ibuprofen will help relieve any pain.

Teeth sensitivity - It’s normal for the teeth close to the wisdom teeth sockets to feel sensitive. Maintaining good oral hygiene should help resolve this, although it may last for several weeks

Does everyone need to have their wisdom teeth removed?

No. If there is room for wisdom teeth to come in without any problems, there is no need to remove them. However, problem wisdom teeth are best removed early. Because wisdom teeth don’t usually cause any pain until they start to do damage, it’s best to find out from your dentist if they are likely to problems sooner rather than later.

Since the roots of wisdom teeth are still forming in a teenager, wisdom teeth removal is easier at this age. Leaving it until later can cause more complications when roots are fully formed.

Are you suffering from your wisdom teeth?

Hopefully, the above information has answered whether wisdom teeth removal is painful and put your mind at ease if you suspect your wisdom teeth may need removing. Why not schedule a consultation with the experienced team at Riverlands Dental to evaluate the condition of your wisdom teeth and how we can best help you.

Call us today on (02) 4501 7930 or use our online booking system.

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.