How long does recovery take after wisdom tooth surgery?

Swelling usually peaks after two to three days and then subsides. Most people feel largely back to normal after about a week, and the sutures are removed after around seven to ten days. The full bony healing of the wound takes several weeks, but it does not normally affect daily life.

Can all four wisdom teeth be removed at once?

Yes, this is possible and is often sensible for younger patients or when sedation or general anaesthesia is planned, because only one healing phase is needed. When all four are removed in one go, the swelling in the first few days is usually more pronounced. Whether this suits you depends on the position of the teeth and your overall situation, which we discuss before the procedure.

Do all wisdom teeth need to be removed?

No. If a wisdom tooth sits straight, has enough space and can be cleaned well, it can stay in the mouth without any problem. We only remove a tooth when there is a medical reason, such as lack of space, repeated inflammation, decay that is hard to treat or a risk to neighbouring teeth. We do not carry out preventive removals without reason.

Is general anaesthesia possible for wisdom tooth surgery?

Yes. Resident has its own anaesthesia department, so the procedure can be carried out under twilight sedation or general anaesthesia where needed. This is particularly useful for pronounced anxiety, the simultaneous removal of several displaced teeth or a complex surgical procedure. Before the appointment we discuss with you which form of anaesthesia best suits your situation.

Wisdom tooth surgery. The process, healing and what to watch for.

Q: Does wisdom tooth surgery hurt?

During the procedure you feel no pain thanks to the local anaesthesia, only pressure and movement. Once the anaesthetic wears off, some wound pain in the first few days is normal and is well managed with the recommended painkillers. If you are very anxious, or if several teeth are removed at once, the procedure can be carried out under sedation or general anaesthesia through our anaesthesia department.

When removal is necessary

Not every wisdom tooth has to come out. If a tooth sits straight, has enough space and can be cleaned well, it can stay in the mouth without any problem. We do not carry out preventive removals without a clear finding. Whether a procedure is indicated is always clarified based on findings and an X-ray, not as a matter of principle.

Reasons that speak for removal

Lack of space. The jaw offers the tooth no room, so it only partly erupts or pushes through the gum at an angle.
Repeated inflammation. Bacteria collect over a partly erupted tooth, and the gum becomes inflamed again and again (pericoronitis).
Decay that is hard to treat. Wisdom teeth sit right at the back and are difficult to clean, so decay is often spotted late and hard to restore.
A risk to neighbouring teeth. A tilted tooth presses against the second molar and can damage it.
Cysts or bone damage that can develop around a displaced tooth.

When a tooth can stay

Healthy, straight wisdom teeth that have fully erupted and take part in chewing do not need to be removed. In these cases we monitor the tooth during your regular check-ups and only act if something changes.

Findings and planning

Every procedure begins with a careful assessment. It is the basis for a safe and predictable removal.

Clinical examination

First we assess the tooth and the surrounding tissue in the mouth. We check how far the tooth has erupted, whether the gum is inflamed and how the tooth sits in relation to its neighbours.

X-ray and 3D imaging

Next we assess the position of the roots by X-ray. What matters here is the proximity to important structures:

In the lower jaw runs the nerve canal that controls feeling in the lip and chin. If a root lies close to it, we clarify this more precisely with 3D imaging (CBCT).
In the upper jaw the tooth borders the sinus. Here too, the imaging shows how close the positional relationship is.

This allows the procedure to be planned precisely and the risk to be assessed realistically in advance. You receive a written cost estimate based on the SSO tariff before we begin.

The procedure step by step

The course depends on how the tooth sits. A fully erupted tooth is removed differently from one displaced in the bone.

Anaesthesia and the options available

Removal is usually carried out under local anaesthesia. It numbs the area around the tooth specifically, so that you feel no pain during the procedure, at most pressure and movement. Which form of anaesthesia makes sense when is explained in detail in our comparison of anaesthesia options.

Resident has its own anaesthesia department. This means we can carry out the procedure under sedation (twilight sleep) or general anaesthesia where needed. That is particularly sensible if you are very anxious, if several displaced teeth are removed at once or if the procedure is complex.

Simple extraction

If the tooth has fully erupted, it can usually be removed directly. We ease it gently out of the socket and then treat the wound.

Surgical removal

If the tooth lies in the bone or is displaced, a surgical approach is needed. The gum over the tooth is carefully opened, the tooth is exposed and, if necessary, removed in several parts to protect the bone. The wound is then cleaned and often closed with a suture. The procedure itself usually takes a manageable time per tooth.

What to expect on the day

Plan the day calmly and without important commitments afterwards. After the procedure you will be numb for a while, so during this time you should not chew on the numbed side, to avoid accidentally biting your cheek or lip.

Before you leave the practice we give you written rules of conduct and, if needed, a prescription for painkillers. If you have had sedation or general anaesthesia, you must not drive yourself that day and should arrange to be collected. Light swelling and some initial bleeding in the first hours are normal.

Healing and aftercare

Healing is uncomplicated for most people, provided the wound is rested in the first few days. What matters is that the blood clot in the wound stabilises, because it is the basis for healing.

Swelling and bleeding

In the first hours, swelling is normal and can be eased by cooling from the outside. It usually peaks after two to three days and then subsides. Some light bleeding early on is also normal.

What helps healing

Cool the cheek in intervals during the first hours.
Eat soft food and avoid very hot dishes on the first day.
Keep your head slightly raised when sleeping.
Clean the rest of your teeth as usual, but leave the wound out at first.

What to avoid

Rinsing on the first day, so the blood clot does not come loose.
Smoking, as it noticeably delays healing.
Physical exertion and sport in the first few days.
Very hot drinks and sucking on a straw.

Some wound pain is normal in the first few days and is well managed with the recommended painkillers. The sutures are removed after a few days, and a check-up completes the treatment.

Risks and how we minimise them

Removing wisdom teeth is a common and predictable procedure. As with any surgical procedure there are risks, which we keep low through careful planning.

Nerve proximity in the lower jaw. If a root lies close to the nerve canal, a temporary numb feeling in the lip or chin can occur. The 3D imaging before the procedure helps us know the position precisely and plan the procedure accordingly.
Disturbed wound healing (dry socket). If the blood clot comes loose too early, the wound can become painful. Avoiding smoking, rinsing and sucking in the first few days lowers this risk noticeably.
Bleeding and swelling. Both are normal in the first few days and subside with the measures described.

This is precisely why we plan the procedure based on findings and imaging and discuss the risks with you beforehand.

When it belongs in specialist hands

Displaced, impacted or particularly nerve-close wisdom teeth are planned and removed in oral surgery. We describe the details of removal on the wisdom tooth removal page, and the wider scope on the oral surgery page.

If the swelling increases after a few days instead of decreasing, if severe or increasing pain occurs or if fever develops, contact us. For any questions before or after the procedure, book an appointment. We will discuss the right steps with you.