Introduction
In evolutionary terms, the human skull is becoming smaller and smaller, which means that there is often too little space in the upper and lower jaws for wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth therefore grow crooked or cannot break through at all, which can cause them to shift and cause discomfort. Nowadays, it is diagnosed at an early stage whether wisdom teeth have enough space or need to be removed prophylactically before any complaints arise.
A wisdom tooth surgery is considered a routine procedure by dentist and oral surgeon, which can be limited to about twenty minutes per tooth. The operation can be performed under local or general anaesthesia. Testimonials from acquaintances or the Internet often scare patients away from the operation, so that they wait too long and complaints arise. The complication rate is low and regeneration can take place without any pain or swelling. In dentistry, it is recommended to have the wisdom teeth extracted between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five, as the ability to heal wounds is at its best during this period.
Duration of anaesthesia
Anaesthesia in wisdom tooth surgery is maintained until the oral surgeon or dentist as surgeon terminates the removal. Then the anaesthetic is drained and an agent is injected, which cancels the effect and brings the patient back to consciousness. For a wisdom tooth surgery an anaesthetist must always be present to monitor the anaesthesia and vital functions of the patient. Therefore, an anaesthetic can last only half an hour or can only be removed after two hours, depending on the complexity of the operation.
Pain duration
The duration of the pain is usually associated with the duration of the swelling and depends on many factors. Complication-free operations and regenerations often do not cause pain at all. If pain occurs, it is strongest in the first two days after the operation and then gradually decreases.
The pain can be caused by irritation of the neighbouring teeth or wound pain, but is no longer noticeable when ibuprofen is taken. It is also helpful to take a painkiller immediately after the procedure so that the pain is buffered after the anaesthetic has worn off. If there are complications in wound healing and infections, inflammatory pain may persist for a longer period of time.
Another painful complication is alveolitis sicca, an empty, inflamed tooth socket. Pain of one to two weeks is then the rule in the case of complications. If the pain is unbearable, the dentist must be consulted, who can reduce the pain with medication if necessary.
Duration of the swelling
The duration of swelling after wisdom tooth surgery is variable. While some patients do not develop any swelling at all, others may experience reddened swelling that gradually recedes. The duration of the swelling is primarily in the first week after the surgery, but it subsides more from day to day. If the swelling feels hard and continues to grow, the dentist or oral surgeon must be consulted immediately, as there is a risk of complications from infection and, in the worst case, sepsis can develop. Furthermore, the surgeon should also be consulted if the swelling persists for more than two weeks.