Wisdom Teeth Removal Adelaide | Oral Health Series | 7 min read

If you spend any time on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, you have almost certainly encountered it: a before-and-after video of a social media influencer recovering from wisdom teeth removal, cheeks softly swollen, commenting on how their jawline looks 'more sculpted' or their face appears 'slimmer' once the swelling settles. The comment sections fill quickly. Thousands of followers begin wondering whether getting their own wisdom teeth out might sharpen their profile for the camera.

It is a fascinating intersection of oral surgery and social media culture and it deserves a clear, evidence-based answer. This blog explores what is really happening when influencers discuss wisdom teeth and facial aesthetics, what the science actually says about profile changes, and why the most compelling reason to have your wisdom teeth removed in Adelaide has nothing to do with going viral.

The Social Media Influence on Cosmetic and Dental Procedures

The relationship between social media and cosmetic procedures is well-documented and growing. A 2024 systematic review published in Cureus — analysing 25 studies involving nearly 14,000 participants concluded that social media significantly influences individuals' decisions to undergo aesthetic procedures (Mironica et al., 2024). The review found that Instagram and Snapchat were among the most influential platforms, with before-and-after imagery, surgeon advertisements, and influencer content driving procedure interest across multiple demographics.

Aesthetic dentistry has been particularly affected. A cross-sectional study examining the impact of social media on dental practice found that close to half of respondents had been influenced by social media content when considering cosmetic dental procedures (Faraz et al., 2022). The 'selfie effect' the psychological impact of seeing one's own face constantly through smartphone cameras and social media has been linked to increased facial appearance anxiety and rising demand for procedures ranging from teeth whitening to orthodontics.

Within this environment, wisdom tooth extraction has become an unlikely aesthetic trend. Influencers post their recovery journeys, and the temporary reduction in swelling post-surgery is sometimes interpreted incorrectly as a permanent improvement in facial contour. The narrative spreads fast. The science, however, tells a more nuanced story.

What Celebrities and Influencers Are Actually Doing

Several high-profile figures have publicly documented wisdom teeth removal in recent years. Pop artist Charli XCX shared her hospital selfie post-extraction in 2023 (Billboard, 2023), and model Cara Delevingne famously documented her wisdom teeth removal journey for her followers. Singer Dua Lipa is reported to have had her wisdom teeth extracted as part of a broader series of dental treatments including crowns and veneers to address alignment issues (Adalya Dental Clinic, 2025).

Importantly, in each of these cases, wisdom teeth removal was either a clinically indicated procedure or one component of a comprehensive dental treatment plan not a stand alone cosmetic intervention to alter facial shape. The aesthetic outcomes that followers observe are almost entirely the result of complementary treatments (orthodontics, veneers, professional whitening) and skilled photography not the extraction itself.

'The evidence is clear: wisdom teeth removal does not permanently reshape the jawline, slim the face, or alter facial profile in any significant or lasting way.'

What the Science Says: Does Wisdom Teeth Removal Change Your Facial Profile?

This is the question at the heart of the trend and the research is definitive. A peer-reviewed pilot study published in BMC Oral Health used three-dimensional structured light scanning to measure hard and soft tissue volume changes in 23 adults following unilateral third molar extraction (Wang et al., 2023). The study found no statistically significant reduction in hard tissue (alveolar bone) volume on the extraction side of approximately 2.33 ml and no lasting change in facial soft tissue volume was detected at the six-month follow-up, leading the authors to conclude that soft tissue dimensions remain essentially unchanged after extraction (Wang et al., 2023).

This finding is consistent with the anatomical reality: wisdom teeth reside in the alveolar bone the specialised, tooth-bearing bone not the basal mandibular bone that defines the visible jawline and lower facial contour. When a third molar is removed, the small amount of alveolar bone remodelling that occurs is localised to the far posterior of the jaw, an area that does not contribute meaningfully to the facial profile visible in photographs or the mirror.

The masseter muscles, subcutaneous fat pads, and overlying skin the structures that actually define cheek contour and jawline definition are not altered by wisdom tooth extraction. A systematic review of cephalometric measurements following third molar removal found zero significant change in skull and jaw bone angles (Rathod et al., 2015). Any 'slimmer' appearance perceived after surgery is the result of post-operative swelling resolving to baseline not a structural change.

The Temporary Swelling Effect: Why Influencers Look Different Post-Surgery

Understanding why the myth persists requires understanding what actually happens after wisdom tooth extraction. Post-operative swelling (oedema) is a normal, expected response to oral surgery. Swelling typically peaks within 24 to 72 hours following the procedure, causing the lower face and cheeks to appear noticeably fuller and slightly asymmetrical (Cleveland Clinic, 2024).

As this swelling resolves over the following one to two weeks, the face returns to its pre-surgical baseline. For many patients including influencers who document this process the resolution of swelling can be misinterpreted as the face becoming 'slimmer' or 'more defined.' In reality, the face simply looks the way it always did before the procedure-related puffiness began.

Camera angles, lighting, weight changes from the soft-food recovery diet, and the heightened attention paid to one's appearance during recovery all compound this perceptual effect. On social media, where posts are carefully curated, the contrast between a swollen post-op photo and a well-lit recovery photo can make changes appear far more dramatic than any anatomical measurement would support.

The Real Reason Influencers (and Everyone Else) Should Consider Wisdom Teeth Removal

While the aesthetic rationale for wisdom teeth removal does not hold up to scientific scrutiny, the clinical rationale is compelling and well-evidenced. Impacted wisdom teeth are extraordinarily common research suggests that between 70 and 90 percent of people have at least one impacted third molar (American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 2024). Untreated, these teeth can cause significant complications that affect far more than appearance.

A 2024 cross-sectional study using the validated Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) found that impacted third molars significantly impair quality of life across multiple domains, including physical pain, psychological discomfort, functional limitation, and social disability (Chaudhary et al., 2024). Participants reported that 'pain in the mouth' and 'uncomfortable experience on eating food' were the highest-scoring items meaning symptomatic wisdom teeth actively undermine daily comfort and social confidence.

The clinical indications for extraction include:

•        Pericoronitis — repeated infection of the gum tissue surrounding a partially erupted molar

•        Dental caries — decay developing in a tooth that cannot be adequately cleaned

•        Periodontal involvement — gum disease affecting the wisdom tooth or adjacent second molar

•        Pressure and crowding — force on adjacent teeth causing pain or misalignment

•        Cyst or pathology formation — around the follicle of an unerupted tooth

•        Root resorption — damage to adjacent molar roots caused by an impacted third molar

These are health reasons and they matter enormously for the kind of confidence that goes far deeper than a jawline. Chronic dental pain, persistent bad breath from an infected wisdom tooth, and difficulty eating are all barriers to daily functioning, social interaction, and self-esteem that no photograph can capture.

Oral Health, Self-Confidence, and the Camera: What Research Really Supports

While wisdom tooth extraction does not reshape the face, the relationship between oral health and self-confidence is genuine and well-supported by research. A 2025 study published in PubMed Central examining oral health's impact on life quality metrics found significant correlations between oral discomfort and reduced self-perception, psychological wellbeing, and even job performance (Helmi, 2025). Poor oral health including symptoms from problematic wisdom teeth creates a cycle in which pain and embarrassment feed into reduced confidence, social withdrawal, and functional limitation.

Conversely, resolving a chronic dental problem eliminating an infected wisdom tooth that has caused months of discomfort can produce a meaningful, genuine improvement in self-esteem and comfort in social and professional settings. For content creators whose livelihood depends on presenting themselves confidently on camera, this kind of relief is far more transformative than any perceived facial contour change.

A large longitudinal cohort study of over 60,000 adults found that oral health impacts at baseline were consistently associated with lower physical and mental health quality-of-life scores up to four years later (Yiengprugsawan et al., 2013). Treating oral disease including removing problematic wisdom teeth is therefore not a cosmetic act but a meaningful investment in long-term wellbeing.

What to Expect from Wisdom Teeth Removal in Adelaide: The Real Transformation

For Adelaide residents who do need their wisdom teeth removed, the procedure is straightforward and the genuine benefits are significant. Here is what evidence-based recovery looks like:

•        Days 1–3: Swelling peaks. Soft foods, rest, cold compresses, and prescribed pain relief are the priority. The face will look puffy and this is normal and temporary.

•        Days 4–7: Swelling begins to reduce. Soft foods continue. Patients typically return to light activity and desk work.

•        Days 7–14: Most swelling has resolved. The face returns to its baseline appearance. Patients notice the absence of the chronic discomfort that preceded surgery often described as a significant relief.

•        Weeks 3–6: Full healing of soft tissue. Any pre-existing pain, difficulty chewing, or recurring infection associated with the problematic tooth is resolved.

The most common post-operative feedback from patients is not 'my jawline looks sharper' but 'I had no idea how much that tooth was affecting me until it was gone.' Freedom from recurrent infection, chronic aching, and the anxiety of knowing a dental problem is being left untreated is a profoundly meaningful improvement in quality of life.

A Note on Social Media, Beauty Standards, and Responsible Decision-Making

Social media platforms have created powerful mechanisms for the spread of both useful health information and misleading aesthetic trends. The wisdom teeth jawline narrative is a case study in how surgical procedures can become misframed through the lens of cosmetic aspiration.

Mironica et al. (2024) noted in their systematic review that social media fosters body dissatisfaction and social appearance anxiety particularly through selfie culture and that this anxiety drives individuals toward procedures for cosmetic rather than clinical reasons. Ethical dental and surgical practice requires that patients pursue wisdom teeth removal when clinically indicated, not because an influencer's post-operative photo looked appealing.

If you are unsure whether your wisdom teeth need attention, the right first step is a consultation with a qualified oral health professional not a TikTok comment section. An OPG X-ray and clinical assessment will give you a clear, personalised picture of whether extraction is warranted, and why.

Key Takeaways

• Social media has driven a trend of influencers associating wisdom teeth removal with improved facial profile but the science does not support this claim.

• Three-dimensional imaging studies show that facial soft tissue volume does not change significantly following third molar extraction (Wang et al., 2023).

• Post-operative swelling that resolves over two weeks is routinely mistaken for a permanent aesthetic improvement.

• The genuine benefits of wisdom teeth removal are clinical: elimination of pain, infection risk, crowding, and long-term oral health complications.

• Impacted wisdom teeth significantly impair quality of life, self-confidence, and psychological wellbeing and removing them addresses all of these in ways that matter far beyond a camera angle.

• Wisdom teeth removal should be guided by clinical need, assessed by an oral health professional, not by aesthetic trends on social media.

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