How did people get their wisdom teeth extracted before modern dentistry?

“Only at the end of the nineteenth century the use of local anesthesia together with the development of radiology led to the establishment of surgical dentistry. Especially the technique of removal of the lower third molar was totally changed and modified many times, depending on the position of the wisdom teeth. First hand instruments were used; later, mechanical devices for bone resection and tooth splitting were employed. Since the 1950s, highly dangerous infections have become rare,”

PubMed

Before that they were left alone.

When average lifespans were around 50 years or less, and loss of other teeth for various reasons were far more common – mostly poor hygiene – impacted wisdom teeth were much less of a problem. If you lose other teeth ahead of those molars, then they may erupt normally and be useful.

Against their will and quite painfully, I’d say.

Hammer and chisel, & vice-grips….much like today except by different names, materials and shapes.

I agree with @Pachyderm_In_The_Room, with a great deal of PAIN.

Maybe they weren’t that big a deal. Maybe they really are not that big a deal anyway.

I’d imagine they left them alone. Pain was no stranger to them. With all of the pain medication and anesthesia, our pain tolerance is a lot lower now than it was then. A toothache was probably a walk in the park back then.

Actually, I think they used liquor and got drunk all the time to forget the pain.