Is the healing process for impacted tooth extraction more difficult in older patients (40 years and older) compared to younger patients?

As a general rule, the younger the patient is when an impacted tooth extraction is performed (especially before root development is complete, between the ages of 18-25), the easier the operation and the faster the recovery. In patients aged 40 and over, the jawbone loses its flexibility and becomes much harder and denser, and the tooth roots may be completely ankylotic (fused) to the bone. These anatomical changes increase the difficulty and duration of the surgical procedure. Furthermore, because the rate of cell regeneration decreases in older age, bone and soft tissue healing is slower compared to younger individuals, and postoperative swelling, bruising, or temporomandibular joint pain may be more pronounced. However, in the hands of an experienced oral surgeon, age is not an obstacle to the operation; the patient only needs to be a little more patient during the healing period.