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Assessment and gentle removal of impacted wisdom teeth at Align Dental Surgery

Wisdom tooth surgery

Wisdom tooth surgery

Assessment and gentle removal of impacted or troublesome wisdom teeth, with comfortable options including sedation and general anaesthesia.

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When wisdom teeth cause trouble

Wisdom teeth usually appear between the ages of 16 and 24. By then many jaws are not large enough to fit them, so they often do not come through fully. Food and bacteria get trapped under the overlying gum, and the wisdom tooth, or the molar in front of it, can become painful, infected or decayed.

When a tooth is impacted like this, surgery is usually needed to remove it from the jawbone. Not every wisdom tooth has to come out: if it sits in a useful position, you can clean it, and it is not causing pain or infection, it can be left in place. A scan and an examination tell us which applies to you.

Diagram of an impacted wisdom tooth pressing against the molars and inflaming the gum at Align Dental Surgery

How the surgery works

The procedure usually takes around an hour and is carried out under local anaesthesia, with sedation or general anaesthesia available if you would prefer not to be aware of it.

Step by step

  1. The gum covering the buried tooth is gently lifted to expose it.
  2. Using a dental bur, the tooth is divided into two or three sections so it can be removed without disturbing the surrounding bone.
  3. The gum is stitched back into position.
3D render of an impacted wisdom tooth causing pericoronitis at Align Dental Surgery

Staying comfortable

Even with local anaesthesia the pain pathways are blocked, but you can still feel some pressure and hear the instruments during the procedure. If you would prefer not to be aware of this, the surgery can be done under intravenous sedation in the clinic or under general anaesthesia in an operating theatre.

Comfort options we offer

  • Local anaesthesia, a numbing injection, for a standard procedure
  • Intravenous sedation in the clinic, supervised by a specialist anaesthetist
  • General anaesthesia in an operating theatre, where you are fully asleep
Dentists Dr Alexia Kwan, Dr Priyanji De Silva and Dr Krushna Reddy at Align Dental Surgery

How safe it is

Wisdom tooth surgery is generally a safe procedure. There are no major blood vessels in the area, and the main risk to be aware of is altered sensation in the nerves that supply the lips, cheek, teeth and tongue. This is usually temporary and settles on its own, and lasting numbness is uncommon. Most other effects after surgery are short-lived and reversible.

Where sedation or general anaesthesia is used, it is carried out and supervised by experienced specialist medical anaesthetists with trained nursing support.

Recovery and aftercare

Expect some discomfort and swelling for the first few days, eased with pain relief and an ice pack held against the cheek. Some numbness of the lips, tongue and cheek for a few hours afterwards is normal. Most people are back to their usual routine within a few days.

In the first few days

  • Stick to soft foods.
  • Avoid straws: the suction can disturb the healing clot and cause bleeding at the surgery site.
  • Avoid smoking and alcohol for at least 24 hours.
  • Follow the post-operative instructions we give you, and call us if anything worries you.
A woman with toothache from a problematic wisdom tooth at Align Dental Surgery

Questions & answers

Wisdom tooth surgery: common questions

Do all wisdom teeth need to be removed?
No. A wisdom tooth only needs to come out if it is causing problems or is likely to: if it is impacted and trapping food, causing pain or infection, decaying or damaging the tooth in front of it, or repeatedly inflaming the surrounding gum. If a wisdom tooth has come through into a useful biting position, you can clean it properly, and it is healthy, it can be left in place. We use a scan and an examination to assess each wisdom tooth individually and will only recommend removing one if there is a clear reason. If yours is borderline, we will explain the trade-offs so you can decide.
How long is the recovery after wisdom tooth surgery?
Most people have some discomfort and swelling for the first two to three days, which is at its worst around day two and then improves, and are largely back to normal within about a week. Pain relief and an ice pack on the cheek help in the first day or two, and you should stick to soft, cool foods, avoid straws and rinsing vigorously, and avoid smoking and alcohol for at least 24 hours to protect the healing blood clot. Some bruising and temporary numbness of the lip or tongue can occur. Follow the aftercare instructions we give you and you will heal more comfortably; call us if anything worries you.
Can I be asleep for wisdom tooth surgery?
Yes. The procedure can be done under local anaesthesia alone, but if you would rather not be aware of the pressure and sounds, we can arrange intravenous sedation in the clinic, where you are deeply relaxed and remember little, or general anaesthesia in an operating theatre, where you are fully asleep. Both are carried out and supervised by experienced specialist medical anaesthetists with trained nursing support, which is why they are safe options. Tell us how you feel about the procedure when you book and we will plan the level of comfort that suits you.
Is wisdom tooth surgery safe?
Wisdom tooth surgery is generally a safe procedure. There are no major blood vessels in the area, and the main risk to be aware of is altered sensation in the nerves that supply the lips, cheek, teeth and tongue, which is usually temporary and settles on its own; lasting numbness is uncommon. Most other effects after surgery are short-lived and reversible. Where sedation or general anaesthesia is used, it is carried out and supervised by experienced specialist medical anaesthetists with trained nursing support. We assess your scan and history beforehand and talk through the risks that apply in your case.

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