How Long Does the Pain After Impacted Wisdom Tooth Extraction Last?

How Long Does the Pain After Impacted Wisdom Tooth Extraction Last?

We usually call this tooth a “wisdom tooth,”

but its official name is the “third molar.”

If there are no problems, it does not necessarily need to be extracted, but if it causes various issues such as gum inflammation or pain, extraction may be the better option. At that time, the extraction method should be decided according to the wisdom tooth’s direction and position.

However, some people are afraid of having a wisdom tooth extracted because they worry about the pain during and after the procedure. So today, we will look at the duration of pain after impacted wisdom tooth extraction and how to manage it.

Wisdom teeth usually grow in the late teens to mid-20s.

They may grow normally and straight, but they may also grow at an angle. A wisdom tooth like this is called an impacted wisdom tooth.

More specifically, it is a wisdom tooth that cannot fully erupt because part or all of it is covered by the gum, and it is often only partially visible or impacted in the jawbone.

When this happens, it can push against adjacent teeth, causing pain, inflammation, or damage. If extraction is delayed when symptoms are present, the symptoms may become more severe, which can make the extraction more difficult.

“When is the best time to extract an impacted wisdom tooth?” The more severe the inflammation or pain at the time of extraction, the slower the recovery and the greater the pain may feel. So it is best to extract the wisdom tooth when there is no inflammation around it.

In particular, impacted wisdom teeth should be removed when the root is not too deep, because the extraction time is shorter and recovery is faster. So if you feel any problem in the area of the wisdom tooth, please visit a dental clinic right away and check whether extraction is needed through imaging such as a panoramic X-ray.

What many people worry about most is probably the pain after impacted wisdom tooth extraction.

Because the extraction is performed 5–10 minutes after local anesthesia, pain during the procedure is minimized. So the only slight discomfort is usually when the anesthetic injection is given, and if you feel pain during the extraction process, additional anesthesia may be administered.

The pain after impacted wisdom tooth extraction can vary depending on the degree of impaction, location, and personal sensitivity.

Please note that if the wisdom tooth root is malformed or is located close to a nerve, the procedure is more difficult, the extraction takes longer, and the pain may last a little longer.

Swelling is usually worst the day after the extraction, but it gradually goes down day by day.

The same goes for pain after impacted wisdom tooth extraction, and it is usually uncomfortable for about 2–3 days. In some cases, the discomfort may last a little longer, but recovery is usually normal within about a week.

These symptoms can be sufficiently managed with cold compresses and painkillers, so if you take good care of yourself, you should be able to recover without major discomfort.

Still, if the discomfort gradually gets worse, please visit the dental clinic for treatment.

“Bleeding control is truly important after extraction” If bleeding is not well controlled immediately after wisdom tooth extraction, swelling may last longer, and discomfort may occur when eating or breathing.

Because the wound may not heal properly, there is also a possibility of problems such as dry socket or dizziness.

Therefore, please bite firmly on the gauze placed after the extraction without moving it, and remove it after about 2 hours. If bleeding continues, you may keep biting on it a little longer.

Also, spitting out blood and saliva can create negative pressure, so please swallow instead, and talking may shift the position of the gauze, so it is best to minimize talking until you remove it.

“Post-extraction precautions”

🔹 Please remember to take the prescribed medication regularly.
🔹 Please avoid alcohol and smoking.
🔹 Please do not use a straw for one week.
🔹 For 1–2 days after the extraction, please actively use cold compresses. (About 20 minutes of compressing → 10 minutes of rest, repeated)
🔹 Until the stitches are removed, please rinse your mouth gently with only a gargle solution. Please brush your teeth except for the extraction site.
🔹 For about 2–3 days, it is better to eat soft foods instead of spicy or irritating foods.

▶ If the swelling keeps getting worse after the extraction or pus forms, there may be a problem such as dry socket, so please receive a diagnosis from the medical staff without delay.

The pain after impacted wisdom tooth extraction can be reduced enough depending on management and timing, so if there are no particular symptoms, it is advisable to check the condition and consider extraction.

Even if you do not feel discomfort yet, please get a dental checkup to confirm your current condition. It may be the first step toward preventing pain and other problems that may arise in the future.