Will my face get smaller after wisdom teeth removal?

Not everyone has wisdom teeth, and the time when wisdom teeth grow is different for everyone. Some people don’t even grow wisdom teeth, which are actually very uncomfortable and can cause inflammation. The tooth will hurt a lot, and most people can't stand this kind of pain. The growth of wisdom teeth is generally irregular and grows randomly. Your face will not get smaller after having wisdom teeth removed. When wisdom teeth grow, your face will get swollen. After having wisdom teeth removed, the swelling on your face will go away.

There are three types of wisdom teeth growth:

1. Normal growth:

Wisdom teeth with this growth pattern are like saplings trying to push against the gums. They will cause pain in the gums for a while, but it is still bearable.

2. Horizontal growth:

Some wisdom teeth that try to survive in the corners and crevices choose not to follow the usual path and insist on growing horizontally, which can easily touch the adjacent teeth and naturally cause toothache. If the wisdom teeth are so rampant, remember to have them removed as soon as possible.

3. Wisdom teeth play hide and seek with you

This type of wisdom teeth is the most "evil". They will hide in your gums, you can't see them, but they are still extremely painful.

Next, I want to discourage many people who want to change their face shape by removing wisdom teeth. Let’s analyze why wisdom teeth have nothing to do with face shape:

1. Facial bones are the key to supporting your face shape, not wisdom teeth

The cheekbones, maxilla and mandible are the framework that supports your facial skin and determine your face shape.

Wisdom teeth are just troublemakers growing on the alveolar bones in the mouth. Even if you remove the wisdom teeth, you can never remove the supports such as the zygomatic bones, maxilla and mandible, and your fat, muscles and skin are still there.

So, removing one or two wisdom teeth will not cause any miraculous changes in your face shape like plastic surgery.

By the way, face shape is related to genetics. Some people are born with large frames and relatively large faces. However, if your face is obviously much larger and wider than that of your family members, it may be that your masseter muscles are too developed. The masseter muscles are the muscles of the face that perform biting actions. People who like to eat hard food and chew food frequently and hard generally have much more developed masseter muscles.

2. Why do some people have smaller faces after having their wisdom teeth removed?

This reduction in size is simply the result of swelling.

Some crooked wisdom teeth will repeatedly cause pericoronitis. The inflammation will further lead to the growth of inflammatory granulation tissue, causing swelling of the cheeks. After the wisdom teeth are removed, this swelling will naturally disappear.

In addition, the face will generally be swollen within three to five days after wisdom teeth are removed. When the facial swelling gradually subsides, many people will of course instinctively attribute the credit for the swelling to the wisdom teeth.

3. Why can orthodontics sometimes have the same effect as cosmetic surgery?

Orthodontics is the correction of teeth and the correction of malocclusion. Buck teeth, protruding mouth, underbite, uneven teeth, etc. (especially the first three) will greatly reduce the appearance of the face. These conditions can be changed through orthodontic treatment. One of the four major goals of orthodontics is to improve facial features.

So next time, when you hear that someone had their wisdom teeth removed and their face became "conical", as if they had plastic surgery, don't be fooled. This person must have had their teeth fixed, and maybe even had orthognathic surgery...

Finally, let's talk about the care methods after wisdom teeth removal:

In terms of diet, doctors generally recommend eating food that is easy to chew in the first week. Do not brush your teeth or rinse your mouth on the first day after tooth extraction. It is best not to smoke or drink within a week to avoid irritating the wound. You can take painkillers. Generally, the wound will heal in about a week and the stitches can be removed.

During the first week after having wisdom teeth removed, some people may not be able to rest well due to dietary restrictions and the pain. It is normal to lose weight at this time. Some people want to lose weight by slimming their face first, but never attribute the credit for a smaller face to the wisdom teeth.