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Wisdom teeth removal

Published by Bupa's health information team, August 2008.

This factsheet is for people who are planning to have wisdom teeth removed, or who would like information about it.

Wisdom teeth removal involves taking out the wisdom teeth at the back of your mouth that are causing you problems.

Your care will be adapted to meet your individual needs and may differ from what is described here. So it's important that you follow your dental surgeon's advice.

Animation - How a wisdom tooth is removed
About wisdom teeth removal
What are the alternatives?
Preparing for your operation
About the operation
What to expect afterwards
Recovering from wisdom teeth removal
What are the risks?
Questions and answers
Related topics
Related Bupa products and services
Further information
Sources

How a wisdom tooth is removed

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About wisdom teeth removal

Wisdom teeth usually emerge from the gum between the ages of 17 and 24. They are the last of the large grinding teeth at the back of the mouth (molars). Some people never develop wisdom teeth but you could have up to four - one in each corner of your mouth.

Wisdom teeth don't usually cause any problems and so don't need to be removed. However, if there isn't enough space for them to grow at the back of your mouth (impacted wisdom teeth), they can cause pain, swelling or infection.

Having your impacted wisdom teeth surgically removed (extracted) can help relieve your symptoms. It may be possible for your dentist to remove your wisdom teeth or he or she may refer you to a dental surgeon.

Illustration showing the position of the wisdom teeth
The position of the wisdom teeth

What are the alternatives?

Antibiotics can help treat an infection, but symptoms tend to flare up again. Having wisdom teeth removed is often the only way to permanently relieve your symptoms.

Preparing for your operation

Your surgeon or dentist will explain how to prepare for your operation. For example, if you smoke you will be asked to stop, as smoking increases your risk of getting a wound infection and slows your recovery.

The operation is usually done as a day case under local anaesthesia. This completely blocks feeling in the gum and you will stay awake during the operation. You may be offered a sedative to help you relax during the operation. If you go to a dental hospital, you may be given general anaesthesia. This means you will be asleep during the procedure. Your surgeon or dentist will advise which type of anaesthesia is most suitable for you.

If you are having a general anaesthetic, you will be asked to follow fasting instructions. Typically, you must not eat or drink for about six hours before a general anaesthetic. However, some anaesthetists allow occasional sips of water until two hours beforehand.

At the hospital your nurse may check your heart rate and blood pressure, and test your urine.

You may be asked to sign a consent form. This confirms that you understand the risks, benefits and possible alternatives to the procedure and have given your permission for it to go ahead.

About the operation

Once the anaesthetic has taken effect, your dentist or surgeon will cut through your gum and may remove some of your jawbone to reach the tooth. The tooth is removed and the wound is closed with stitches.

Most wisdom teeth only take a few minutes to remove but more difficult wisdom teeth can take up to 40 minutes.

What to expect afterwards

You will need to rest until the effects of the general anaesthetic or sedation have passed.

After a local anaesthetic it may take several hours before the feeling comes back into your jaw. Take special care not to bump or knock the area.

You will be able to go home when you feel ready.

If you had a general anaesthetic or sedation you will need to arrange for someone to drive you home. You should try to have a friend or relative stay with you for the first 24 hours.

Your nurse will give you some advice about looking after your teeth and gums before you go home. You may be given painkillers, antibiotics and mouthwash solutions to take home. You may also be given a date for a follow-up appointment.

Dissolvable stitches will disappear on their own in seven to 10 days. Non-dissolvable stitches are removed a week after surgery.

Recovering from wisdom teeth removal

If you need them, you can take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Follow the instructions in the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine and ask your pharmacist for advice.

General anaesthesia and sedatives can temporarily affect your coordination and reasoning skills, so you must not drive, drink alcohol, operate machinery or sign legal documents for 48 hours afterwards. If you are in any doubt about driving please contact your motor insurer so that you are aware of their recommendations, and always follow your dentist's or surgeon's advice.

Don't vigorously rinse out your mouth during the first 24 hours after having a wisdom tooth removed because this can disturb blood clots that help the healing process. After meals you can rinse gently with warm salt water (half a teaspoon of table salt dissolved in a glass of water).

You should brush your teeth as usual, but keep your toothbrush away from the healing wound for the first couple of days.

At first, you may feel small fragments of bone with your tongue. These are the edges of the tooth socket and will soon disappear as the gum heals.

Eating and drinking

To begin with, you should eat soft foods, gradually returning to a normal diet once your jaw feels less stiff.

Bleeding

If your gum bleeds, fold a clean handkerchief or piece of gauze, place it on the bleeding gum and bite on it for at least 20 minutes. Don't rinse your mouth out or lie down until the bleeding has stopped.

Most people don't experience any problems after having their wisdom teeth removed. However, contact your dentist or your GP immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms:

bleeding that doesn't stop after applying pressure, or that lasts for more than half an hour
difficulty in breathing or swallowing
severe pain that isn't helped by painkillers
a high temperature
swelling that continues for more than three days after surgery

What are the risks?

Wisdom teeth removal is commonly performed and generally safe. However, in order to make an informed decision and give your consent, you need to be aware of the possible side-effects and the risk of complications of this procedure.

Side-effects

These are the unwanted, but mostly temporary effects of a successful treatment, for example feeling sick as a result of the general anaesthetic.

You may have some facial swelling, pain, jaw stiffness and some bleeding for up to two weeks. These symptoms are usually at their worst for the first two or three days and then gradually improve.

Complications

This is when problems occur during or after the operation. Most people are not affected. The possible complications of any operation include an unexpected reaction to the anaesthetic or excessive bleeding.

Specific complications of having wisdom teeth extracted are uncommon but may include:

infection
accidental damage to other teeth and jaw during your operation
severe pain caused by dry socket - this is when the blood clot breaks away from the wound exposing the bone and nerves, causing pain and delaying healing
numbness in the lower lip or tongue - this can be caused by nerve damage and there is a small chance that this could be permanent
jaw stiffness - it's possible that you may not be able to open your mouth fully

The exact risks are specific to you and will differ for every person, so we have not included statistics here. Ask your surgeon or dentist to explain how these risks apply to you.