Are you planning to remove one or more of your wisdom teeth? Then you may be curious to know just how long the procedure takes. In general, tooth extraction may take only a few minutes. But wisdom tooth extraction is often more complicated than the extraction of your other teeth.
If you have no complications, then wisdom tooth extraction may take just a few minutes. However, the following factors will extend wisdom tooth extraction time, so bear this in mind if you are in a hurry.
1. Root length and age
Wisdom teeth roots grow longer than the roots of the other teeth in the mouth. And these roots grow longer over time. The younger the roots are, the shorter they are. Younger roots are not as deeply embedded in the jawbone as older roots are. Thus, the wisdom teeth of someone in their thirties will likely be more difficult to remove than the wisdom teeth of someone in their early twenties.
2. Tooth impaction
What often happens when wisdom teeth erupt is that there isn't enough room for them to erupt as fully as they should. If there is insufficient room in the mouth, wisdom teeth lodge in the jawbone and gum tissue. In other words, the teeth become impacted. Removing an impacted wisdom tooth requires more time than usual, as dentists need to get through bone as well as gum tissue.
3. Proximity to the alveolar nerve
The longer roots of wisdom teeth sometimes grow uncomfortably close to the alveolar nerve, which runs through the jawbone under the teeth. In this case, the dental surgeon has to take care not to damage the nerve when removing a wisdom tooth. Although nerve injuries due to wisdom teeth removal are rare, the risk does mean that your extraction will take longer than usual.
4. Proximity of adjacent teeth
Another issue that extends removal time is the proximity of the surrounding teeth. When there is little room in the mouth, wisdom teeth erupt and sometimes lean or push against the adjacent teeth. This means that the surgeon has to take care not to damage the adjacent tooth while they attempt to remove a wisdom tooth.
Wisdom teeth removal can sometimes take time, especially if the aforementioned factors are involved. Make sure you speak to a local dentist to learn more about wisdom teeth removal and what you can expect from the procedure.
Share6 April 2021
I have worked as a school nurse for decades. Children come to me with all sorts of scrapes and bumps and bruises. Black eyes from playing football, sprained wrists from falling off the monkey bars and stomachaches from too many sweets are common complaints. However, the issue that seems to cause the greatest angst is tooth problems. Sometimes a child will have a second tooth knocked out when playing sport and parents arrive in tears. At other times, children come to my office crying because their friends are teasing them about teeth that are discoloured or stick out. I take an active interest in the latest dental news so that I can give parents and children comfort and advice. I have included some of my collected wisdom on these pages. Perhaps this information can help you understand some options when faced with a dental problem. Thank you for reading.