Do they break your jaw to remove wisdom teeth?

The good news is that none of the methods used to remove wisdom teeth require breaking your jaw. Even for wisdom teeth that are challenging to remove, there is no need to break your jaw at any point.

However, a broken jaw is a potential complication of wisdom tooth surgery. This is a rare complication, occurring in only 0.0046% to 0.0075% (according to different studies) of people who have their wisdom teeth removed [3].

What are wisdom teeth?

The medical term for wisdom teeth is third molars. How long does it take for wisdom teeth to come in? They are the last teeth in your mouth to erupt (come through), usually appearing when you are 17-25 years old [4].

However, they can also erupt many years later. Most adults have 4 wisdom teeth, but 8% of people in the UK have missing wisdom teeth or no wisdom teeth at all [4].

Why remove wisdom teeth?

Wisdom tooth removal is a very common procedure, and dentists advise 59% of their patients to have wisdom teeth removed [5]. It’s so common because often, wisdom teeth partially erupt or don’t erupt at all.

They may also get impacted (stuck) against nearby teeth or bones. This can leave a flap of gum over your tooth, where food can get trapped and the area becomes prone to infection. Teeth may also grow too far out of the gum and over-erupt.

Here are some reasons you may need a wisdom tooth removed:

Your wisdom tooth is growing sideways or facing the wrong direction
You have repeated or serious infections of your gum
You need an operation to move your jaw forward or backwards
Your tooth is in the line of an existing jaw fracture
Your orthodontist needs to make space to move other teeth backwards
You have tooth decay
You have a cyst near your wisdom tooth
Your wisdom tooth grows out too far and damages your cheek and gums

Your dentist may recommend preventative extraction for an impacted wisdom tooth. This aims to prevent dental problems in the future, even though you may currently have no symptoms.

Here are some reasons to consider preventative extraction:

Your impacted tooth is in a position that makes it hard to clean properly
Symptom-free impacted wisdom teeth may still harbour disease
Complications and difficulty with surgery become more likely as you get older – younger adults are less likely to suffer serious complications

Sometimes, alternatives to wisdom tooth surgery can resolve your symptoms. We’ll discuss these below.

What are the alternatives to removing wisdom teeth?

Painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen can help to control mild pain from wisdom teeth. If the area around your tooth becomes infected, antibiotics and rinsing with specialist mouthwash or hot, salty water may resolve the infection.

If your wisdom tooth has partially erupted, you may be able to have the flap of gum over your tooth removed instead of the wisdom tooth itself. This is known as an operculectomy.

Sometimes, the problem tooth lies close to the nerve that supplies sensation to your lower lip. A coronectomy may be performed in this case, where just the crown of your tooth is removed.

How are wisdom teeth removed?

Wisdom teeth are extracted by a dentist or specialist surgeon. If your dentist recommends removing your wisdom teeth, they will arrange an X-ray to determine who should do the extraction.

Anaesthetic

At Harley Street Specialist Hospital, different types of anaesthetic and sedation can be given on-site. The type of anaesthetic you receive will depend on how difficult your tooth is to remove.

Usually, you’ll have an injection of local anaesthetic before the procedure to numb the wisdom tooth and the area around it. If you’re anxious about the procedure, you can also have intravenous sedation via your arm as well as the anaesthetic. The sedation will be given by a consultant anaesthetist, and the procedure can take place in the clinic room or the operating theatre.

Sometimes, the position of the wisdom tooth makes the procedure more complicated. In this case, you can be given a full general anaesthetic. Surgery will take place in the operating theatre, supported by a consultant anaesthetist.

The procedure

If your wisdom tooth hasn’t erupted yet, a small incision (cut) will be made in your gum to access it. If your tooth has come through your gum, there’s less need for an incision.

You may need to have part of the bone covering your tooth removed with a surgical drill. Your tooth may also be cut into smaller pieces to make it easier to remove.

Your dentist or surgeon will need to widen the tooth socket by pushing your tooth back and forwards before removing it. You’ll feel some pressure at this stage, but you shouldn’t feel pain because of the anaesthetic. If you do feel any pain, let your dentist or surgeon know so they can give you more anaesthetic. Find out more about if tooth extraction hurts.

Simple wisdom tooth extractions may only take a few minutes, but can take longer than 20 minutes if the surgery is more complex [6].

After the procedure

Stitches are used to seal your gum after the tooth is removed. These are usually dissolvable and should disappear within 2 weeks.

You may be given gauze to place over the extraction site and asked to apply pressure for up to an hour by biting your jaws together. This encourages a blood clot to form in the empty tooth socket.

You may be prescribed antibiotics if you have an infection during your wisdom tooth extraction. For the next 24 hours, you should avoid:

Smoking or drinking alcohol
Drinking hot liquids
Strenuous exercise
Rinsing your mouth with liquid

How long does it take to recover?

For three days following surgery, you may have some swelling and discomfort on the inside and outside of your mouth. If you’ve had sedation or a general anaesthetic, you won’t be able to drive for at least 24 hours.

It takes up to 10 days for the extraction site to heal and the blood clot to fully form. You should avoid strenuous exercise during this period. You’ll probably also need to take a few days off work.

Your jaw may feel stiff for around a week, and the soreness may take a couple of weeks to disappear completely. You may have bruising on your face, which can take 2 weeks to fade away.

What happens if the procedure is delayed or I decide I don’t want it?

Your symptoms may return or get worse. If you have chronic infections as a result of an impacted wisdom tooth, there is a risk of getting a serious infection which could be life-threatening.

If you need a wisdom tooth removed before having orthodontic treatment or corrective surgery, the other surgery or treatment may not be able to go ahead. If you decline wisdom tooth extraction or the surgery is delayed and your pain gets worse, contact your dentist.

In 2021, Londoners waited an average of 6.5 weeks to start treatment for oral (mouth) surgery, such as wisdom tooth extraction [7]. Delaying wisdom tooth surgery can be painful and put you at risk of dangerous infections. If you need a wisdom tooth removed, book an appointment with Harley Street Specialist Hospital for rapid treatment with no waiting lists.

Broken jaw as a complication of tooth extraction – check

Although rare, a broken jaw can be a complication of wisdom tooth extraction.

People with osteoporosis (and taking osteoporosis medication) are more at risk of a broken jaw when having wisdom teeth removed [8].

There are several other factors that put you at greater risk of a broken jaw when having a wisdom tooth extraction. These include:

Bulbous or overly long tooth roots
Hypercementosis (an excessive buildup of cementum (calcified tissue) on the roots of your teeth
Multi-rooted teeth
Alveolar atrophy (bone loss in the area of your tooth sockets)
Cysts near the site of surgery
Impacted wisdom teeth requiring bone removal to extract them

Here are some signs of a broken jaw as a result of wisdom tooth extraction:

Sudden loosening of your jaw bone
A loud crunch or crack during the procedure
Sharp pain in your jaw
Changes to the alignment of your bite
Diagnostic imaging evidence of a broken jaw
Bone comes out with your tooth during the extraction

Treatment for a broken jaw

If your jaw breaks during a wisdom tooth extraction, it will need to be repaired. There are two ways to repair your jaw – open reduction and closed reduction.

Open reduction – Your surgeon creates an incision to access your jaw bones and manually places the fractured (broken) bone back together. It is then secured with plates and screws to keep it in place.
Closed reduction – This does not require an incision. Usually, your mouth will need to be wired shut for several weeks to allow healing.

How can I prepare for a wisdom tooth extraction?

Our highly trained clinicians at Harley Street Specialist Hospital will advise you on everything you need to prepare for your procedure. Here are some things worth bearing in mind:

Time off work

Once you’ve booked your wisdom tooth extraction, you should contact your school or workplace to book some time off. Most people need 1-3 days off work after a wisdom tooth extraction, although people with physically demanding jobs may need more time.

Your doctor will advise you on how long you may need off work, which depends on several factors. These include:

The type of anaesthesia you’ll receive
How many teeth will be removed
Individual factors (lifestyle, other medical conditions etc.)

You may need more time off work if any complications occur during surgery. Your doctor will be able to advise you on this after the procedure.

Transport

You will likely go home the same day as your wisdom tooth extraction. You will probably not be able to drive, so you should arrange for a family member or friend to take you home.

If you have a general anaesthetic during your procedure, you may experience confusion and dizziness. You should be accompanied by someone for 24 hours afterwards.

Food preparation

You should make sure you have suitable food at home to eat in the days following your procedure. Your doctor will advise on suitable foods for the first few days. Foods that don’t require chewing are recommended for the days immediately following surgery [9], such as:

Soup
Smoothies
Fruit purée
Yoghurt

Removing wisdom teeth at Harley Street Specialist Hospital

Painful wisdom teeth need expert attention as soon as possible. Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons have performed hundreds of wisdom tooth extractions and can provide the highest standard of care.

With our state-of-the-art clinic and no waiting lists, we can ensure your experience will be as relaxed and painless as possible. Book an appointment with Harley Street Specialist Hospital to arrange a wisdom tooth extraction at a time that suits you.