Understand the Procedure Before You're in the Chair.
Clear, calm explanations for every oral surgery condition — from impacted wisdom teeth to bone grafts. Because knowing what's coming makes all the difference.
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Impacted Wisdom Teeth
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Step-by-Step Guide
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Your third molars — wisdom teeth — arrive between ages 17 and 25. When there isn't room, they become impacted: trapped under the gum, angled against neighboring teeth, or partially emerged. Left untreated, they cause pain, crowding, and infection.
An impacted wisdom tooth is stuck below the gumline or angled in a way that prevents normal eruption. The jawbone and surrounding tissue become inflamed, and pressure builds on adjacent molars.
Impacted wisdom teeth don't resolve on their own. They can damage the roots of neighboring teeth, create pockets where bacteria accumulate, and in rare cases develop into cysts that erode jawbone.
Consultation & 3D Imaging
Your surgeon takes a panoramic or cone-beam CT scan to map the exact position, angle, and root depth of each wisdom tooth. This single image determines the entire surgical plan.
Typically 30 minutes. No discomfort beyond the positioning of the imaging sensor.
Anesthesia & Preparation
On the day of surgery, you'll receive local anesthetic, IV sedation, or general anesthesia depending on complexity and your preference. The gum tissue is gently incised to expose the tooth.
Most patients report feeling pressure but no pain. Sedation options mean many patients remember little of the procedure.
Tooth Section & Removal
If the tooth is deeply impacted, the surgeon divides it into sections — removing each piece individually rather than forcing a single extraction. This reduces trauma to surrounding bone and tissue.
The technique that sounds most alarming is actually the gentlest approach. Sectioning means less bone removal.
Socket Cleaning & Closure
The empty socket is irrigated to remove debris, and any sharp bone edges are smoothed. The gum is sutured closed — usually with dissolving stitches that disappear within 7–10 days.
Dissolving sutures require no removal appointment. They simply break down as healing progresses.
Recovery Begins
You'll rest in recovery for 30–60 minutes before discharge. Swelling peaks at 48–72 hours and then steadily resolves. Soft foods, gentle rinsing, and rest are the entire recovery protocol.
Most patients return to desk work within 2–3 days. Strenuous activity resumes at day 7.
Recovery Timeline
What the weeks ahead look like.
Recovery is a process, not an event. Here's what to expect at each stage.
Surgery Day
Rest, ice packs every 20 min, soft foods only. Bleeding slows within 4 hours.
Peak Swelling
Maximum swelling and bruising. This is normal and expected — not a complication.
Steady Improvement
Swelling begins to resolve. Energy returns. Sutures dissolve quietly.
Desk Work Resumes
Most patients return to office work. Soft food diet continues.
Full Activity
Exercise, normal diet, and social engagements resume without restriction.
Every recovery is individual. The timeline above reflects typical experience. Your surgeon will give you a personalized recovery plan at your consultation.
Before Your Consultation
Questions worth asking your surgeon.
A prepared patient gets more from every consultation minute. Check the questions that matter most to you — then bring this list.
Take this guide with you.
Download your personalized consultation checklist as a PDF — something concrete to hold onto at 2 a.m., and to bring to your appointment.
You've read the guide.
Now ask the surgeon.
Every question you've just checked deserves a direct answer from your own surgeon. Booking a consultation is the calm next step — not a commitment to anything more.