What to Expect with Wisdom Teeth Removal

Our smile is priceless and impacts our daily lives on such an important level

We will go to great lengths to attain the best smile possible. Perhaps one of the most common dental procedures done in the United States is wisdom teeth extraction. While the surgery is considered major because it requires local or general anesthesia, there is no need to worry if the time comes for you or your children to have their wisdom teeth removed.

You may have a lot of questions regarding the procedure, such as: how long is wisdom teeth surgery? or what is recovering from wisdom teeth removal like? While you should always consult your dentist for dental advice, here is a brief overview of what to expect.

Wisdom teeth are the third and last molars on each side of the upper and lower jaw and will commonly appear in a person’s late teens or early twenties. The American Dental Association recommends that people between the ages of 16 and 19 be evaluated to determine if their wisdom teeth should be removed. During this time, the roots haven’t fully developed yet making extraction easier and present fewer complications. The reason why wisdom teeth are commonly removed is that they can crowd the other teeth, which causes misalignment or sometimes they do not emerge.

If wisdom teeth do not emerge, serious complications can arise. If they become impacted or embedded in the jaw bone, the surgery becomes a bit more involved.

Following the surgery and once the anesthesia wears off, the recovery process begins. During this time, it is especially important to not do anything that disrupts the healing process. You may experience pain, soreness, swelling, and bleeding, all of which are completely normal. As your mouth heals, you will want to avoid solid and crunchy foods, alcohol, coffee, soda and hot beverages during the first few days as to dislodge the blood clot or injury your healing gums. After the first day, you may brush your teeth gently, rinse your mouth with salt water to help prevent infections and begin eating soft foods (always consult your surgeon first). To help with the pain and swelling, ice packs and over the counter, anti-inflammatory drugs are recommended to increase the comfort and decrease the pain and swelling.

Overall, wisdom teeth removal is a very routine procedure and within a few days of extraction, you will be back to normal. At Doral Sedation & Family Dentistry, we offer our patients a wide range of dental procedures to help give them a healthy and gorgeous smile. To learn more about teeth extractions and to schedule your consultation today, visit,