You may have heard that getting your tonsils out is easier as a child than as an adult, and the same goes for the wisdom teeth. In a study done by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, they found that children who got their wisdom teeth removed between the ages of 9 and 16 had a decreased risk for alveolar osteitis, second molar damage, and nerve involvement. They also found that patients who had their third molars removed after the age of 25 were at 1.5 times higher risk for complications.
In general, children have a shorter recovery period than adults as their bodies can adapt to change quickly. That’s not to say the surgery is completely painless, but your child should only experience mild discomfort for a couple of days. The surgeon will administer an anesthetic to help with any pain during the procedure and medication to help manage any pain after. If the pain increases or persists after a few days, contact your surgeon for help.