Is it painful to remove wisdom teeth from the upper or lower jaw?

Going to the dentist is always stressful for the patient. The main problem and fear before removal is pain. Modern technologies allow for painless removal, but this does not relieve patients from worrying about this problem. The wisdom tooth is rightfully considered one of the most difficult to remove, and therefore its painless removal is a real breakthrough in the field of dentistry. Specialists at the Zuub clinic perform wisdom tooth removal quickly, competently and without any pain.

Is it painful to remove a wisdom tooth from above?

The bone tissue of the upper jaw is not as dense as the tissue of the lower jaw. Additionally, superior figure eights typically have less tortuous roots than lower molars. Therefore, local anesthesia can completely relieve the patient of pain during surgery. This is confirmed by reviews of people who have already had an upper wisdom tooth pulled out. They note that the most unpleasant, but quite tolerable sensations were experienced when the anesthetic was administered. And the removal itself was absolutely painless.

It can really hurt those patients who put off visiting the doctor for a long time. And all this time they took painkillers. Local anesthesia also has a very bad effect on people who use drugs.

Removal of upper teeth - what are the features?

The upper jaw has its own anatomical features. So, for example, implanting upper teeth is somewhat more difficult. The bone tissue is looser, which is why the implanted rods take several months longer to take root. Low jawbone density is due to less chewing load that falls on it. Therefore, after removal, it atrophies faster. But if implantation becomes more complicated, then with surgical extraction of teeth things are different - here the procedure is easier and simpler than on the lower jaw.

Choice of anesthesia - general or local

As noted above, the bone tissue here is less dense. It is covered by a thin membrane called the “cortical plate”. It contains a large number of openings for nerves and blood vessels. Due to this, there are no problems with the administration of local anesthesia. Removal of the upper teeth is usually easy and quick, without any discomfort. In this case, there is no need to consider general anesthesia as an alternative option for pain relief.

Risk of injury to the maxillary sinus

The maxillary sinus is located in the internal structures above the upper jaw. Often its shell is located in close proximity to the roots. If the extraction technology is violated, the sinus can be damaged, which will lead to its perforation or rupture. This complication is typical for the procedure for extracting chewing elements and wisdom teeth. It causes a number of symptoms indicating sinus injury. For example, when you eat or drink, ingested liquid and air may exit through the nose. Sometimes foam appears in the vacated hole, and during probing the instrument penetrates much deeper than it should.

This complication is a consequence of medical errors. To correct the situation, the injured membrane will have to be sutured. Sometimes perforation of the sinus leads to increased temperature, suppuration, and the development of sinusitis and sinusitis. In serious cases, the patient may be hospitalized, undergo a full-fledged operation and be prescribed a course of antibiotics.

Entry of part of the root into the sinus

Sometimes, when the maxillary sinus is damaged, part of the root penetrates into it. And this is again a medical error caused by incorrect advancement of the tooth at the time of its extraction. Often such a complication occurs against the background of thinning of the bone plate. Simply put, the tooth breaks and part of its root system “slips” into the sinus.

Among the characteristic symptoms, dental experts identify fluid and air entering the nose through the mouth, severe runny nose, high temperature, and pain in the nose. To clarify the diagnosis, the patient is sent for an X-ray examination. Next, he is prescribed a full-fledged operation, which is carried out in a hospital setting.

Is it painful to remove a wisdom tooth from below?

Reviews about the removal of lower wisdom teeth are very contradictory. Some talk about the complete painlessness of the operation, others remember the minutes spent in the chair with a shudder. The fact is that when a wisdom tooth is removed from below, the patient’s sensations directly depend on the professionalism of the doctor.

Thus, infiltration anesthesia in the upper jaw is carried out in the gum in the area of ​​​​the root of the wisdom tooth. And in the case of the lower “eight”, the dentist has to give an injection from the inside of the jaw. Carrying out such anesthesia is technically more difficult, and, alas, not all dentists are fluent in it.

If modern anesthetics are used, and the doctor is a professional in his field, pain during the removal of the lower wisdom tooth is completely eliminated.

It may hurt a little when the anesthetic is administered. Unpleasant sensations do not go away if an abscess has already formed in the area of ​​the wisdom tooth. But in particularly difficult cases, the dentist may decide to use general anesthesia.

Estimated cost of the procedure

According to the compulsory medical insurance policy, a tooth can be removed completely free of charge, in a state clinic. In private clinics, the procedure will cost from 1,500 to 3,000 rubles, depending on the degree of complexity. In some situations, the cost of the operation can even reach 15 thousand rubles or more, for example, with a complex extraction of the figure eight using sedation.

As for immediate recovery, the cost of such treatment using inexpensive brands will cost approximately 30-50 thousand rubles - this includes x-ray diagnostics, 3D planning and tests. Restoration with the installation of a more expensive Nobel Biocare implant and an adaptation crown will cost approximately 70-90 thousand rubles.

1. Drobyshev A.Yu., Matytsin O.M., Dronov M.V. Modern approaches to immediate dental implantation, 2004.

Patient reviews

Review 1

Before describing the procedure, I want to talk about my pain threshold. I can NOT stand pain. At all! I LOVE IT!!! For example, before treating caries, I ask you to give me 2 painkiller injections. And then one day my wisdom tooth began to hurt. I endured it steadfastly! But patience has come to an end! I had to go to the clinic.

Sitting down in a chair, I, as usual, asked for 2 injections and mentally prepared myself for torture :) Instead of somehow supporting and encouraging me, the doctor said: - Nahhh... but the tooth is in an inaccessible place! You can’t even get close to him!!!

Then she asked me to open it wider, then even wider, then again and again... It seemed to me that the corners of my mouth were already torn, and the doctor kept asking me to make my “mouth wider”! At the same time, she said, “What can I do here...” and tried to pick up the tooth with pliers.. These attempts lasted about 5 minutes. There was no particular pain, it was just unpleasant that the doctor could not pick up the tooth and was scared from waiting for the outcome. In the end, I asked: - Maybe I’ll go already?!!! If she can’t pick up a tooth, then WHAT will happen next?! To my deep surprise, the doctor did not even try to persuade me to stay and complete the procedure. She simply said: “Go!”

Well, wow :) This has never happened to me before. Usually doctors persuade: - Well, be patient... If you came, then you need to be patient. And here on you - go... I ask: - And what to do now? The answer was: “Nothing!” Rinse! And don't eat anything for 2 hours. And don't drink anything hot all day. - Why??? - Because the wound should heal. - So you REMOVED my tooth??? - Yes!

Just like that! While I was preparing for “medieval torture” and many hours of torment, the specialist did her job! BRAVO!!! I was delighted! After a couple of hours, the freezing sensation began to subside and the pain returned. She was tolerable, rinsing helped. After a few days the pain went away, but the wound healed for probably a whole month! The pain was weak and dull... The gums ached a little and as if something was pulling. But everything ended well! Everything is overgrown evenly.

Review 2

One of the four teeth had grown into the gum and began to rot there. Therefore, when I came to my favorite dentist, there was only one diagnosis - the wisdom tooth needed to be removed. I honestly couldn’t even get scared when I was already given anesthesia and the fragile dentist started pulling my tooth.

From the sensations, I can’t say that it hurt, no, the anesthesia worked well, but there was a feeling, I felt the tooth being taken with forceps, how it was being pulled, and I was even surprised how my fragile doctor pulled out this chunky tooth. He fought hard to get out, but for professionals there are no problems.

After this, of course, my gums bled a little, I was prescribed mouth rinses so that everything would heal faster. My gums healed within a day. I did not feel any discomfort due to the missing wisdom tooth.

Therefore, I can say for sure that the devil is not as scary as he is painted. Yes, it was unpleasant, but not painful and it could be tolerated. And if I have to remove the rest of my wisdom teeth, I won’t be the least bit upset or scared. Since there is nothing scary in this procedure.

How is the operation performed and how long does it take?

It all starts with an examination and x-ray. The doctor must know how the molar is located and what kind of root system it has. The removal tactics depend on the data received.

Simple extraction

Removing a third molar does not always require complex manipulations. If the crown is well preserved and there are no complications, a simple operation is performed using ordinary forceps. Procedure steps:

1. Local anesthesia.
2. Antiseptic treatment.
3. Application of forceps and their fixation.
4. Rocking, dislocation and extraction of the molar from the socket.
5. Removing fragments if a tooth is crumbled.
6. Treatment of the wound.

Simple extraction lasts from 5 to 15 minutes.

Complex extraction

If the number eight is dystopic, retinal, or all at once, then you won’t be able to get rid of it quickly and easily. To remove the problematic figure eight, the doctor can use a scalpel, drill, laser, elevator and other surgical instruments. Operation stages:

1. Local or general anesthesia.
2. Antiseptic treatment.
3. Dissection of the gum, spreading its edges and exposing the tooth.
4. If necessary, drilling or cutting off bone tissue, dividing the tooth root into several parts.
5. Complete or partial extraction of a dental unit.
6. Stop bleeding.
7. Treatment of the wound with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory medications.
8. Stitching of soft tissues.

The duration of complex extraction is from 30 minutes to 2 hours. If non-absorbable threads were used to stitch the gums, after 7-10 days you need to contact the clinic to remove them.

How long will an extracted tooth hurt?

Removing a wisdom tooth is a serious surgical procedure that severely injures the soft tissues of the periodontium. The fact is that third molars are large teeth, having from 2 to 5 roots. And after their removal, an open bleeding wound remains in the jawbone and gum, which will definitely hurt. And not a couple of hours, but several days.

The pain can be aching and cutting, radiating to the throat or ear. The patient may complain of painful swallowing and persistent headache. An increase in body temperature to 37.5 0C is also natural and physiological. There is no need to endure unpleasant sensations. After tooth extraction, the dentist will definitely recommend painkillers:

• paracetamol;
• ibuprofen;
• analgin;
• butadione;
• sedalgin.

All of them are available without a prescription, are not addictive and have minimal side effects. At the same time, they effectively relieve pain. Normally, the pain at the site of the extracted tooth subsides within 3-7 days. And the final healing of the hole occurs by the end of 2 - 3 weeks after tooth extraction. During this time, she needs to be protected from injury - brush her teeth carefully, eat food carefully.

The appearance of edema is also natural after the removal of the figure eight. As a rule, it forms during the first day after surgery and lasts for the next 2 to 3 days.

If over time the pain does not subside, but, on the contrary, intensifies, you should immediately consult a doctor. Alarm signals are a strong increase in temperature, an unpleasant odor from the hole, acute pain radiating to the temple or ear. These symptoms may indicate the development of inflammation. And without the intervention of a dentist, the purulent process will lead to an abscess and sepsis.

But even if healing goes according to plan, most patients will have to see their doctor again 7-10 days after surgery. This time to remove the stitches. This procedure cannot be called painful, although it is unpleasant. If the patient's pain threshold is too low, the dentist will numb the area of ​​the gum with lidocaine gel or spray.

Wisdom teeth removal with 20% discount

Moscow

Recommendations after wisdom tooth removal –

After a simple extraction, it is enough to follow the standard recommendations after tooth extraction. But what to do after the removal of a wisdom tooth, if the removal was difficult or was carried out against the background of purulent inflammation. To the standard recommendations in the link above, we recommend adding the following -

• 
  NSAID-based analgesics - without waiting for the anesthesia to wear off, take an NSAID-based analgesic (for example, ibuprofen). The advantage of these drugs is that in addition to pain relief, they also have an anti-inflammatory effect. Be sure to drink on day 1, then as needed. And remember that after removal you cannot take aspirin and its derivatives.

• Antihistamines - they are also called antiallergic. We recommend taking it (preferably Suprastin) once a day before bedtime in the first 3 days after a complex removal. The advantage of these products is that they help reduce the swelling of soft tissues, which will certainly develop after a complex removal.

• Antibiotics – Antibiotics after wisdom tooth removal should only be prescribed by a dental surgeon and not taken on your own. Most often, dental surgeons are accustomed to prescribing Lincomycin 0.25 capsules (2 capsules 3 times a day, for 5 days). This is an inexpensive Russian drug, quite effective, but it has a strong effect on the intestinal microflora, killing all living things.
  Another popular antibiotic in dentistry is Amoxiclav. For adults, it is necessary to use Amoxiclav tablets containing 500 mg of amoxicillin and 125 mg of clavulanic acid - 2 times a day. However, if you have had stomach upsets (diarrhea) after taking antibiotics, then it is better to opt for the antibiotic Unidox-solutab 100 mg 2 times a day for 5-6 days.

  We recommend the latter option. And try never to take Russian antibiotics in your life if possible, if you do not want to develop pseudomembranous colitis. It would be better then to give preference to inexpensive Indian antibiotics.

What drugs are used for pain relief

Just a few decades ago, the only painkiller used by dentists was novocaine. Despite its low toxicity, it very often caused serious complications in patients: from an allergic reaction to anaphylactic shock.

The next step was the use of lidocaine. It is still used to this day in budget dental offices, and has an undeniable advantage: allergies to the drug occur extremely rarely. The problem is different: to prolong the effect of lidocaine, the dentist has to add a drop of adrenaline to it. Moreover, this is done “by eye”. And as soon as the doctor’s hand trembles a little, the patient is guaranteed such unpleasant symptoms as rapid heartbeat and dizziness.

It is much more comfortable for both the doctor and the patient of the dental clinic to deal with articaine anesthetics. These include:

• ubistezin
  ;
• ultracaine;
• septanest
  .

Firstly, such drugs are administered with a carpule syringe, which ensures that the injection itself is less painful. Secondly, the ratio of adrenaline and anesthetic in the drugs is adjusted to the nearest milliliter. This means that wisdom tooth removal will be painless, and the patient will not experience any side effects.

Important! If the patient is at risk, it is recommended to use an anesthetic that does not contain adrenaline.

In what cases should a wisdom tooth be removed?

Indications for removing the “eight” are:

• Abnormal placement of wisdom teeth .
  Evenly growing third molars are rather an exception to the rule. Most often, these teeth grow at an angle, injuring the tongue, cheek, and moving other teeth. Sometimes the inclination is so great that wisdom teeth do not even show on the surface and can only be detected on an x-ray. Compared to our ancestors, the jaw of modern humans has decreased in length by almost 12 millimeters. That is why “eights” often simply do not have enough space in the jawbone.
• Pericoronitis or too slow tooth growth . This pathology is not an absolute indication for surgery. More often, the dentist suggests that the patient simply remove the hood to avoid the development of an inflammatory process over the growing tooth. But if the patient goes to the doctor too late, then there is only one way out: removal.
• Caries . It is difficult to take good care of the “eights”. Bacterial plaque still remains on the teeth, and later, during a preventive visit, the doctor discovers carious cavities. You can suspect their appearance if the tooth begins to twitch when exposed to cold or sweet foods.
• Inflammatory process . It is also necessary to remove a tooth if an infection has been introduced into the soft tissues of the periodontium. It can provoke the development of flux or a cyst, and in this case the dentist will not hesitate.

Whether it makes sense to preserve a wisdom tooth, only a doctor can determine in each specific case.

Description of the procedure: how it is carried out

If the patient is undergoing a planned operation, then first he is sent for an X-ray examination and tests. After studying the diagnostic results, the doctor begins the procedure or prescribes it for the next free time. Complex extraction is recommended to be carried out at the beginning of the day. It is better not to eat or drink immediately before visiting the doctor - this will help enhance the effect of the anesthetic. If the patient suddenly catches a cold before removal, it is better to reschedule the procedure.

First, the specialist administers anesthesia. If a simple operation is to be performed, its duration will be no more than 20 minutes. Using special forceps, the doctor carefully clamps the crown, rocks it with a special movement, and then sharply pulls it out of the socket. Lightly compresses the edges of the wound until the hole is completely filled with blood and a blood clot is formed - protection against infection and mechanical damage. Next, the doctor treats the injured tissue with an antiseptic, prescribes painkillers, and in some cases antibiotics, and gives detailed instructions about the postoperative period.

How to prepare for removal

If the process of the emergence of the third molar causes concern or is accompanied by pain, then it is necessary to show the problem unit to the dentist as soon as possible. You should not postpone a visit to the clinic, abuse painkillers or use “miracle” folk remedies - this will not help solve the problem and may worsen it.

After treatment, there are 2 possible scenarios - the wisdom tooth will be treated or removed. To properly prepare for removal, just follow a few simple recommendations.

• 1 - 2 days before the procedure, stop taking alcohol and anticoagulants - drugs that impair blood clotting, for example, Aspirin, Heparin, Ibuprofen.
• On the eve of the operation, it is better not to practice warming procedures - go to the bathhouse, sauna, solarium, or steam your feet.
• Be sure to eat 1 – 2 hours before removal.
• Before visiting a doctor, thoroughly brush your teeth and mouth with a regular toothbrush and toothpaste.

Immediately before removing a wisdom tooth, it is recommended to lubricate your lips with Vaseline or hygienic lipstick - this will protect them from the formation of cracks. As a rule, in good clinics the dentists do this themselves, but just in case, it is better to take the product with you from home.

It is important to know! According to the observations of dentists, seeking help earlier guarantees a less painful procedure.

This is due to the fact that the place where the figure eight appears is not yet “exhausted” by pain, slightly inflamed, without swelling and other unpleasant symptoms. In this case, an injection of anesthesia will be sufficient to completely numb the procedure.

If you endured it for a long time, took pills, and then couldn’t stand the torment and asked for help, then you need to be prepared for the fact that, most likely, the operation will be more painful and the dentist will have to use a larger dose of anesthesia, which is not always possible.

Regardless of the time of treatment, it is necessary to understand that figure eight extraction is a rather complex process from a technical point of view, requiring the efforts of a doctor. Naturally, tooth extraction will be accompanied by unpleasant sensations. The degree of their manifestation depends on the patient’s pain threshold - therefore it is better to warn the specialist in advance about the characteristics of your body.

Contraindications to the procedure

The extraction procedure (that’s what it’s officially called) has its limitations. It should be noted that almost all contraindications are relative, which means that after eliminating limiting factors, removal can be carried out. These phenomena and conditions include the following:

• acute infectious diseases,
• blood clotting disorders,
• first and last trimester of pregnancy,
• 2 days before and after menstruation,
• diabetes in an uncompensated stage,
• pathologies of the heart and blood vessels,
• mental illnesses in aggravation.

It is not advisable for pregnant women to perform the procedure.
Sometimes emergency removal is required, and then there is simply no time left to eliminate the above-mentioned obstacles. In this case, the doctor takes on additional risk and performs the procedure as carefully as possible. It is better if it is a truly experienced and qualified dental surgeon.

Removal steps

If the wisdom tooth has already erupted, the dentist may not carry out any preparatory procedures. If an unerupted or partially erupted “figure eight” is to be removed, the doctor will definitely refer the patient for an x-ray. And based on the results of the image, he draws up a plan for the operation. Its duration depends on the complexity of the procedure. Simple removal will take 5 - 10 minutes, complex removal will last for 20 - 160 minutes.

Easy removal

• Stage 1.
  Selection of anesthetic. The doctor inquires about the patient’s allergies and asks him about chronic and past diseases.
• Stage 2.
  Conducting anesthesia. When removing an upper wisdom tooth, pain relief will take effect within 3-4 minutes. If you have to remove the bottom “eight”, you will have to wait 8-10 minutes.
• Stage 3.
  Actually, the removal or extraction of the “eight”. The doctor grabs the tooth with forceps or elevators and removes it from the socket.

If the removal was carried out against the background of inflammation, the dentist will wash the wound with an antiseptic solution and put an anti-inflammatory drug into the hole. In most cases, the operation ends with suturing the wound. This way it will heal faster and the risk of bleeding will be significantly reduced.

Simple wisdom tooth removal takes from 1 to 10 minutes. In this case, the gum is not cut, and the tooth is not drilled, but simply removed from the bone tissue.

Difficult removal

One of 3 factors makes it difficult to remove a wisdom tooth: strong branched roots, a badly damaged crown that does not allow the dentist to use forceps, or the unerupted third molar itself.

• Stage 1.
  Taking an x-ray . It is the x-ray that allows the doctor to understand how large-scale the intervention will be and how long the operation will last.
• Stage 2.
  Selection of anesthetic . This stage is no different from that of simple wisdom tooth removal.
• Stage 3. Administration of anesthesia
  .
• Stage 4.
  An incision in the gum , spreading its edges and exposing the tooth.
• Stage 5.
  Wisdom tooth extraction . If the roots are branched, the doctor separates them with a drill. And one by one he removes them from the hole.

The operation is completed by washing the wound with antiseptics, applying the drug and suturing the hole. After a complex wisdom tooth extraction, the patient must have a follow-up appointment. Sometimes after 1-2 days, sometimes after a week.

Complex tooth extraction takes at least 20 minutes. In some cases, the operation can last even 3 hours. But all this time the patient will not feel pain.

Wisdom teeth - difference from other teeth

This tooth is no different from other molars in its structure. If it erupts without pain, does not cause discomfort to the person and has normal roots, then they do not get rid of it. Its cutting is often accompanied by acute or dull pain, lack of comfort when eating food and other unpleasant symptoms. The upper teeth can cause food stuck and damage to the mucous membrane, and the lower teeth can lead to the formation of a purulent hood, caries, etc.

The main differences are two factors:

• excessively curved or fused roots;
• the same curved root canals.

The first factor is reflected in the difficulty of extraction: the roots grow together and can have the most bizarre shapes. This is what causes the main difficulties for painless elimination. The second factor provokes difficulties with further treatment: canals of this shape are very difficult to subject to filling and mechanical stress.