If you are scheduled to have your wisdom teeth removed, you may be wondering how long the procedure will take. The good news is that on average it takes 30 minutes – 1 hour 30 minutes to remove all 4 wisdom teeth. However, there are many factors that can affect how long the surgery will take. In this article, we will discuss what factors can affect the average wisdom tooth extraction length and what you can do to prepare for the surgery.
What Factors Affect How Long it Takes to Remove Wisdom Teeth?
How Difficult of a Tooth it is to Remove
How difficult a tooth is to remove can be broken down into four categories, depending on what needs to be cut during surgery. The more that needs to be cut the longer the surgery tends to take:
- Very little incision required: Generally, this means your tooth has erupted and is fully visible. This is the easiest and quickest type of surgery.
- Incision through the gum: This means your tooth is sitting just below the gum. The surgeon will need to make an incision in your gum to expose the tooth and remove it.
- Incision through gum and bone: This means your tooth is impacted, which means it has not erupted through the gum. The surgeon will need to make an incision through both the gum and bone to reach the tooth.
- Incision through gum, bone, and tooth: This means that your tooth is impacted and cannot come out without being sectioned, aka broken apart, without damaging the jaw or nerves. The surgeon will need to make an incision through the gum, bone, and tooth to remove it. This is the most difficult type of surgery and can take the longest.
The Apprehensiveness of the Patient
As a dentist, the comfort of one’s patient should be taken into account when doing procedures. For example, if a patient is under anesthesia the procedure will go quicker since the patient is not reacting to the procedure being done. If the patient is awake and feeling anxious, the procedure may take longer as the dentist will want to make sure the patient is comfortable.
For extremely apprehensive patients, there are various sedation techniques that dentists use to help patients feel more comfortable. The type of sedation used will also play a role in how long the procedure takes. There are 4 types of sedation available to dentists.
- Level 1: Minimal sedation: You are awake but feel more relaxed
- Level 2: Moderate sedation: You drift in and out of sleep, hence you will remember only parts of the dental appointment. You can be easily awakened
- Level 3: Deep sedation: You are on the edge of being asleep, hence you will unlikely remember any parts of the dental appointment. You can not be easily awakened but will respond following repeated or painful stimulation
- Level 4: General Anesthesia: You are asleep throughout the whole procedure, therefore will not remember any part of the dental appointment. You can not be awakened even with painful stimulation
These types of sedation can be administered through laughing gas, oral sedatives (pills that you swallow), or IV sedation (needle inserted into veins). If you are worried about wisdom teeth removal contact your dentist for more information about these options.
Number of Teeth Being Removed
The number of teeth being removed can also affect how long your surgery takes. If you are only having one wisdom tooth removed, it will generally take less time than if you are having multiple teeth removed. This is because the surgeon will only need to make one incision and there is only one tooth that needs to be removed. However, if you are having multiple wisdom teeth removed, the surgeon will need to make multiple incisions and remove each tooth individually, which can take longer.
Additionally, in general, upper teeth tend to be easier to remove than lower teeth. This is because the upper jaw is typically less dense than the lower jaw, making it easier to get through to the tooth.
The Surgeon’s Experience
Another factor that can affect how long your surgery takes is the surgeon’s experience. A more experienced surgeon will generally be able to remove wisdom teeth quicker than a less experienced surgeon. This is because they will have a better understanding of how to get to the tooth and remove it without damaging the surrounding tissue.
This is also why dental schools, while often offering cheaper procedures, also take 2-3x as long. The students are still learning how to remove wisdom teeth and are supervised by a more experienced dentist.
Just Because Wisdom Teeth Removal is Short Doesn’t Mean You Won’t Have a Recovery Period
Even though the surgery itself may only take 30 minutes to an hour and a half, the recovery period can last between several days to several weeks. This is because your mouth will be sore and swollen following the surgery. Additionally, you may have some numbness in your lips and tongue from the anesthesia.
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to care for your mouth following surgery, but in general, you should expect to take it easy for a few days and eat soft foods while your mouth heals. You may also need to take pain medication during this time to help with any discomfort.
So, how long does it take to remove wisdom teeth? It depends on a variety of factors, but in general, you can expect the surgery itself to take between 30 minutes to an hour and a half. However, the recovery period can last several days to several weeks. If you have any concerns, be sure to talk to your dentist. They will be able to give you specific instructions based on your individual case.
Disclaimer
The contents of this website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be substituted for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Nothing on this website constitutes the practice of medicine, law or any other regulated profession.
No two mouths are the same, and each oral situation is unique. As such, it isn’t possible to give comprehensive advice or diagnose oral conditions based on articles alone. The best way to ensure you’re getting the best dental care possible is to visit a dentist in person for an examination and consultation.
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