FAQs

• the shape of the roots of the wisdom teeth – the more curved or divergent the roots are, the harder it is to extract the tooth
• density of the surrounding bone – the bone in the upper jaw is generally softer, making it easier to surgically extract upper wisdom teeth in most cases
• accessibility of the region – both upper and lower wisdom teeth can sometimes have difficult access, making the procedure more complicated
• during the surgical extraction of upper wisdom teeth, there may be a risk of “sinus perforation” due to the close proximity or contact with the sinus. This complication can be relatively easily resolved during the procedure.
• lower wisdom teeth may be close to the inferior alveolar nerve, which requires special attention and can significantly slow down the surgical extraction of the tooth.

Surgical extraction of wisdom teeth looks similar to any other oral surgical procedure. After an adequate diagnosis and treatment plan, the intervention is performed. The first step is to prepare the patient by giving anesthesia, appropriate pain and swelling medications. The next step is to prepare a sterile working field. The wisdom tooth is accessed by lifting the gums, possibly removing a small portion of the jawbone or cutting the whole tooth. After the tooth is extracted, the wound is stitched, and the stitches are usually removed after 7 days. Throughout the procedure, the patient is under anesthesia and does not feel any pain. If the tooth or bone needs to be cut, a dental drill is necessary, which sounds and looks like a regular dental filling.