Wisdom teeth are the last to erupt and frequently find insufficient room in the jaw. As a result they either erupt partially or remain fully impacted within the bone. Here we explain impacted tooth removal — the surgical procedure we carry out most often at our clinic in Eyüpsultan, Istanbul — through the questions patients ask most.
Does Every Wisdom Tooth Need Removing?
No. There is no reason to remove a wisdom tooth that has erupted fully, sits in a functional position and can be cleaned properly. Routine removal of trouble-free wisdom teeth is no longer recommended.
Extraction is advised in these situations: recurrent inflammation beneath the gum flap over a partially erupted tooth (pericoronitis), decay in the wisdom tooth or the molar immediately in front of it, cyst formation around the crown, pressure on the adjacent teeth, and persistent bad breath because the area cannot be cleaned.
Pre-Operative Assessment
A panoramic radiograph is taken before surgery. Where necessary, three-dimensional CT imaging is used to examine the tooth''s relationship to the nerve canal in the lower jaw and the sinus cavity in the upper jaw in detail. This assessment is the essential step in minimising complication risk and should never be skipped.
Please tell us about any medication you take, particularly blood thinners and bone medications. This information directly affects both the plan and the timing of the procedure.
What Does the Procedure Involve?
Extraction is carried out under local anaesthetic and usually takes 20 to 40 minutes. For impacted teeth a small incision is made in the gum and, where needed, the tooth is sectioned and removed in pieces. This sounds more dramatic than it feels; sectioning the tooth actually makes removal considerably less traumatic.
There is no pain during the procedure. For anxious patients, or where several teeth are planned in one session, sedation can be considered. Sutures are usually placed and removed after about a week.
Recovery and Aftercare
Swelling typically peaks on the second day and then subsides. Applying cold to the cheek intermittently during the first 24 hours reduces it markedly.
Do not rinse vigorously on the first day. This prevents the clot at the surgical site from being dislodged and causing the painful condition known as dry socket. For the same reason, avoid drinking through a straw and spitting.
Warm, soft foods are best in the first few days; hot drinks, hard foods and smoking are all on the list to avoid. Smoking impairs wound healing and is the greatest single factor increasing dry socket risk — stopping for at least a week is strongly recommended.
Take the prescribed painkiller regularly and complete any course of antibiotics in full. Most patients return to normal activity within two to three days.
When to Call the Clinic
Contact us if pain increases after the third day and does not respond to painkillers, if swelling continues to progress, or if you develop a fever, marked difficulty opening your mouth or bleeding that will not stop. These signs are uncommon but require prompt attention.
A Note on Timing
Impacted tooth surgery is generally more straightforward at a younger age, with faster healing, and complication rates are lower when the roots are not yet fully formed. For that reason it is preferable to address teeth likely to cause problems in a planned way, rather than as an emergency infection later in life.
Patients in Eyüpsultan and the wider Eyüp area can contact our clinic for an assessment of impacted teeth.