Wisdom teeth, often referred to as “the last teeth to grow,” are not “fuel efficient lights” in many people’s mouths. When wisdom teeth appear pain, inflammation, affect the neighboring teeth and other problems, many people will choose to remove it through surgery. But for people who are about to face wisdom tooth surgery, there is always a question in their mind: how long will this surgery take? Is it a quick fix or a long fight? Next, let’s have an in-depth understanding of the various links of wisdom teeth surgery and uncover the mystery of the length of surgery.
The preparation before the operation
Before actually lying in the operating chair to begin the operation, a series of preparations are necessary, and the length of these preparations will also affect the length of the entire surgical process.
Preoperative examination
The doctor will first conduct a comprehensive examination of your mouth, including visual observation of the growth position and shape of the wisdom teeth, as well as the condition of the surrounding gums and adjacent teeth. This step is relatively quick and can usually be completed in 5-10 minutes. In addition to oral examinations, imaging tests are also required, the most common being oral X-rays or CBCT (cone-beam CT). Through these images, doctors can more clearly understand the shape of the wisdom tooth root, the relationship with peripheral nerves and blood vessels and other important information. Generally, it only takes a few minutes to take X-rays, while the shooting time of CBCT is slightly longer, about 5-10 minutes, but the subsequent image analysis and diagnosis may take 10-20 minutes, and the doctor needs to carefully study the image and formulate the most suitable surgical plan.
Preoperative communication and preparation
After the examination is completed, the doctor will carry out detailed preoperative communication with the patient, which is a very important link. The doctor will explain to the patient the necessity of surgery, the general process, the possible risks and complications, and the precautions after surgery. Patients can also raise their own questions and concerns, and fully communicate with the doctor. This communication process may last 15-30 minutes depending on the number and complexity of the patient’s problems.
After the communication is complete, if the patient is determined to have surgery, there are also some preoperative physical preparations that need to be made. For example, doctors may ask patients about their general health, including whether they have underlying conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes, and whether they are taking specific medications (such as anticoagulants). If the patient’s medical condition is at risk, additional tests such as blood tests and blood pressure measurements may be required to ensure the safety of the procedure. These tests and preparations can take 1-2 hours, or even longer, depending on the patient’s condition and the hospital’s schedule.
Duration of different types of wisdom tooth surgery
The growth of wisdom teeth varies greatly, resulting in a wide range of complexity and length of surgery. According to the growth state of wisdom teeth, the surgery can be roughly divided into simple wisdom tooth extraction and complex wisdom tooth extraction.
Simple wisdom tooth extraction
If the wisdom tooth has fully erupted, the crown is exposed in the mouth, the root shape is more regular, there is no obvious bend or fork, and there is no adhesion to the surrounding tissue, in this case, the wisdom teeth removal is relatively simple. When performing an operation, the doctor will first disinfect the operating area and put it under local anesthesia. The disinfection process is generally 1-2 minutes, and the injection time of local anesthesia is also about 1-2 minutes, but the anesthetic effect usually takes 5-10 minutes, waiting for the patient to completely lose consciousness in the surgical area.
When the anesthesia has taken effect, the doctor will use instruments such as dental forceps to remove the wisdom tooth after it becomes loose with appropriate force. The entire extraction process may only take 5-10 minutes, or even less. After removing the wisdom teeth, the doctor will perform treatment on the tooth extraction wound, such as cleaning up the blood clot, pressure to stop bleeding, etc., this step takes about 5-10 minutes. Therefore, from the beginning of disinfection to the completion of the extraction wound treatment, a simple wisdom tooth extraction surgery may take about 20-30 minutes in total.
Complex wisdom tooth extraction
Partially erupting wisdom teeth: The crown of this type of wisdom tooth is partially exposed in the mouth, partially covered by the gum, and the root situation is relatively complicated. During the operation, disinfection and local anesthesia are also used first, and the time is similar to the preoperative preparation time for simple wisdom tooth extraction. After the anesthesia takes effect, the doctor first cuts through the gum covering the wisdom tooth, which takes about three to five minutes. The wisdom tooth is then divided into sections using a dental drill for easier removal, a process that can take 5-10 minutes. The fragments are then extracted in turn, a process that can take 10-20 minutes, depending on the number and difficulty of the tooth segments. After tooth extraction, it is also necessary to sew the gum wound to prevent bleeding and promote healing, and the suture time is generally about 5-10 minutes. Including pre-operative preparation time, partial wisdom tooth removal surgery can take 40 to 60 minutes.
Fully ambushed wisdom teeth: Wisdom teeth completely ambushed in the alveolar bone are the most complicated situation. Before the operation, disinfection, anesthesia and other preparatory work should also be carried out. After the anesthesia takes effect, the doctor will need to cut the gums and then use a dental drill to remove the alveolar bone covering the wisdom tooth, fully exposing the wisdom tooth. The process of removing the alveolar bone can take 10-15 minutes. The teeth are then divided into small pieces and removed one by one, a process that can take 15 to 25 minutes. After removal, the extraction wound should be carefully cleaned to check whether there is any residual tooth debris or bone residue, this step takes about 5-10 minutes. Finally, the gingival wound is closed, and the entire procedure, including preoperative preparation, may take 60 to 90 minutes, or even longer.
In addition, if the root of the wisdom tooth is closely related to the inferior alveolar nerve, the doctor needs to be extra careful during the surgery to avoid damaging the nerve. This will increase the difficulty and precision of the operation, and the operation time will be correspondingly longer. In some cases, in order to ensure the safety of the surgery, the doctor may choose to perform the surgery in stages, so that the overall treatment cycle will be longer.
Recovery time after surgery
The end of wisdom tooth surgery does not mean that the whole process is over, and the recovery after the surgery is also an important stage, and the recovery time varies from person to person.
After the surgery, the patient needs to be observed in the hospital for 30-60 minutes, mainly to observe whether the extraction wound has sustained bleeding, whether there is abnormal pain or swelling. If there is no problem, the patient can go home.
On the day after surgery, a small amount of blood will leak from the wound, which is normal. Patients need to bite a cotton ball or gauze in accordance with the doctor’s instructions for pressure to stop bleeding, generally 30-40 minutes after biting can be spit out. Within 24 hours of surgery, swelling and pain may begin around the wound, which peaks 2-3 days after surgery and then gradually decreases. The time for swelling and pain to subside varies from person to person, generally around 5-7 days.
For simple wisdom tooth removal surgery, patients can usually return to normal life and work in 1-2 days after the surgery, but to avoid strenuous exercise and overexertion. For complex wisdom tooth removal procedures, especially those that cut the gums and remove the alveolar bone, the recovery time will be longer. Rest may be required for 3-5 days after surgery, and it takes about 1-2 weeks for the wound to fully heal. The sutures on the gums are usually removed 7-10 days after surgery. During recovery, patients need to pay attention to oral hygiene, avoid wound infections, and take anti-inflammatory and painkillers as recommended by their doctors.
Other factors affecting the length of wisdom tooth surgery
In addition to the growth of the wisdom tooth itself, there are several other factors that can affect the length of surgery.
The doctor’s experience and skill level
Experienced, skilled doctors perform wisdom tooth surgery, the operation is more accurate, smooth, and can deal with various complex situations more quickly, thus shortening the operation time. In contrast, less experienced doctors may need to spend more time during surgery to respond to emergencies or find more appropriate procedures.
The degree of patient cooperation
The cooperation of the patient is also very important during the operation. If the patient can relax, follow the doctor’s instructions, maintain the correct position and open mouth, the surgery can go more smoothly. However, if the patient is too nervous and cannot cooperate well, it may lead to inconvenient operation and prolong the operation time.
Surgical equipment and instruments
Advanced and complete surgical equipment and instruments can improve the efficiency and safety of surgery. For example, high-quality dental drills can segment teeth and remove alveolar bone more quickly and precisely, while well-performing aspirators can maintain a clear surgical field of view and reduce operating time.
Conclusion:
In summary, the duration of wisdom tooth surgery is a variable affected by many factors. Simple wisdom tooth removal procedures may only take 20-30 minutes, while complex wisdom tooth removal procedures may take 60-90 minutes or more. Together with preoperative preparation and postoperative observation, the time span of the whole process is large. However, regardless of the length of the operation, patients should choose regular oral medical institutions and professional doctors for surgery, preoperative preparation and postoperative care to ensure the smooth operation and good recovery effect.
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