Wisdom Tooth Removal & Recovery
When wisdom teeth need removing and how to recover.
Impacted or problematic wisdom teeth are often removed to prevent pain, infection and crowding.
Recovery
Soft diet, cold compresses and avoiding smoking/straws to prevent dry socket.
When to Remove
For impaction, infection or damage to neighbours.
Simple Extraction or Surgical Removal?
A fully erupted wisdom tooth may be removed like any other tooth, and recovery is quick. An impacted tooth — trapped in bone or under the gum, often angled — requires an incision, sometimes bone removal and sectioning of the tooth. Recovery is longer and complications are more frequent.
The distinction is visible on a panoramic radiograph or CT before surgery, and it determines everything that follows. See panoramic dental X-ray.
Recovery Timeline
| Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Oozing, numbness fading, cold packs, soft cool food |
| Days 2–3 | Swelling and trismus (limited opening) peak |
| Days 3–7 | Steady improvement; sutures removed or dissolving |
| Week 2 | Soft tissue largely closed; normal diet resuming |
| 3–6 months | Bone remodelling completes beneath |
Dry Socket: The Complication to Know About
After surgical removal of impacted lower wisdom teeth, dry socket is reported in 20–35% of cases, against 2–5% for routine extractions. It appears on day two to four as severe throbbing pain, poorly relieved by painkillers, often with a foul taste and visible bone.
It is prevented by protecting the clot: no smoking, no straws, no forceful rinsing or spitting for the first 24–48 hours. It is treated quickly with irrigation and a medicated dressing.
Other Risks Worth Understanding
Trismus: difficulty opening the mouth for several days, from muscle inflammation. Normal, resolves.
Nerve injury: the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves run close to lower third molars. Temporary numbness of the lip, chin or tongue occurs in a small minority; permanent injury is rare. A CT scan before surgery quantifies this risk.
Infection: uncommon; signalled by fever, spreading swelling and pus.
Contact your surgeon for pain worsening after day three, fever, spreading swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, or numbness persisting beyond a day. See swelling after surgery and extraction aftercare.
Frequently Asked Questions
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