Wisdom teeth removal is an oral surgery to remove one or more of your wisdom teeth from your mouth. This procedure is usually performed by an oral surgeon and can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the complexity of the case. Your dentist or oral surgeon will examine your wisdom teeth and determine if extraction is necessary during a pre-operative consultation. The dentist will do an oral examination and take x-rays to check for potential complications from keeping them in. It will be determined whether they need to be removed; if so, surgery will be scheduled. Depending on how many teeth are taken out, you may be given either local anaesthetic or general anaesthesia (for either partial or full sedation) during the process. The dentist will make incisions in your gums and/or jawbone to gain access to specific teeth, then use specialised tools to loosen those teeth from their supporting ligaments and bone so they can be extracted. When the teeth have been extracted, any necessary wounds may be closed with stitches that will disappear on their own within a few weeks. The time it takes for the pain and swelling to go away after having wisdom teeth extracted varies from person to person, but is usually between 7 and 10 days. Keep drinking fluids and eating soft food, while avoiding anything too hot or spicy until you fully recover. In addition to refraining from alcohol and tobacco use for at least 48 hours following surgery, practising adequate wound care, such as gently cleaning with warm salt water 3-4 times a day, will hasten the healing process.