After Extraction of Wisdom Teeth
In most cases, the removal of wisdom teeth is performed under local anesthesia, laughing gas (nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia), or general anesthesia. These options, as well as the surgical risks (e.g., sensory nerve damage, sinus complications), will be discussed with you before the procedure. Patients receiving IV sedation should also review the pre-anesthesia instructions. Once the teeth are removed, the gum is sutured. To help control bleeding bite down on the gauze placed in your mouth. You will rest under our supervision in the office until you are ready to be taken home. Upon discharge your postoperative kit will include postoperative instructions, a prescription for pain medication, antibiotics, and a follow-up appointment in one week for suture removal. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at Easley Phone Number (864) 855-0383.
Our services are provided in an environment of optimum safety. We utilize modern monitoring equipment and our staff are experienced in anesthesia techniques.
What Will I Feel Like After Wisdom Teeth Removal Surgery?
On the first day after wisdom teeth removal surgery, you may experience some minor bleeding and pain. You should cover your pillowcase with something so that you don’t get any blood on it. Each individual’s reaction to surgery varies, and the sensation of pain can range from mild discomfort to severe pain. A variable amount of swelling can be expected following the surgery. This swelling usually peaks on the second day and should begin resolving on the third day. You can limit the amount of swelling you will have by using ice for the entire first day. The more ice you use the first day, the less swelling you are likely to have on the second day. Please remember to put ice on the first day, even if it is somewhat uncomfortable to have the cold next to your skin. On the third day, you will notice that your jaw muscles are stiff, and it is difficult to open your mouth normally. You can apply moist heat to your face on the second and third day, allowing your muscles to relax more and open wider. Most of the time, you will want to limit your activities for a few days. We ask that you follow your post-operative instructions closely. Doing so will make you as comfortable as possible during the first few days following your procedure. Please allow time for your body to begin healing before resuming an active social, academic, or athletic schedule. Most patients feel like they are over the hump and on their way to recovery in 3 to 5 days.
Are There Any Problems After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
As with any medical procedure, there can be complications or an unanticipated result. Some complications that patients undergoing wisdom tooth extraction may experience include:
- damage to the sensory nerve that supplies sensation to the lips and tongue
- sinus communication
- infections
- dry sockets
After the procedure, our assistants will review your post-operative instructions with your escort. We ask that you follow these instructions closely, as they will make you most comfortable following your procedure. If you were sedated, you will be comfortable and drowsy when you leave the office. Most patients prefer to go home and rest with no other physical or scholastic activities planned for a few days. With any medical procedure, there can be unexpected results. These can include delayed healing, infection and post-operative numbness or tingling in your lip, chin, or tongue. Dr. Joudeh, Dr. Bowie, Dr. Proulx or Dr. Holliday will review relevant post-operative events with you and answer any questions during your office visit.
Damage to Sensory Nerve:
- A primary concern is a nerve within the lower jaw bone that supplies feeling to the lower lip, chin, and tongue. This nerve is frequently very close to the roots of the lower wisdom teeth. Having these teeth out between the ages of 12 and 18 usually provides shorter roots so that the nerve is not so close to the roots of these teeth.
- Occasionally, when the teeth are removed, and especially in older patients, the nerve can become injured. When local anesthesia wears off, you may experience a tingling or numbing sensation in the lower lip, chin, or tongue. Should this occur, it is usually temporary and will resolve gradually over a period of weeks or months. On rare occasions, it can result in a permanent alteration of sensation similar to having local anesthesia. We feel that you should be aware of this possibility before consenting to surgery.
Sinus Communication:
- The upper wisdom teeth are situated close to your sinuses, and their removal can result in an opening between your mouth and the sinus. Once again, if the teeth are removed at an early age, the root formation is minimal, and this complication is very unlikely.
- However, if it does occur, it will usually close spontaneously, but we may give you special instructions to follow, such as avoid blowing your nose for two or three days following the surgery. You can wipe your nose, but don’t blow your nose. If you have to sneeze, you should sneeze with an open mouth into a tissue. Pressure should not be created in the sinus area, which may dislodge the healing blood clot. If you sense this condition occurring after the surgery, please contact the office. An additional procedure may RARELY be necessary to close the opening.
Dry Sockets:
- Dry sockets continue to be the most common problem people experience following dental surgery. They arise due to premature loss of a blood clot in the empty tooth socket. This seems to occur with greater frequency in people who smoke or are taking birth control pills. While both jaws can be affected, they usually occur in the lower jaw on the third to fifth day. They cause a deep, dull, continuous aching on the affected side(s). Patients may first notice the pain starting in the ear, radiating down towards the chin.
- The symptoms frequently begin in the middle of the night, and your pain medication regimen may not help. Treatment can involve changing your prescription.
- Occasionally, it is helpful to place a medicated dressing in the empty tooth socket. This will help decrease the pain and protect the socket from food particles. The effectiveness in alleviating the pain lasts for 24-48 hours and may require dressing changes every day or two, for five to seven days.
- Dressings are usually removed when you have been pain-free for 2 to 3 days. The dressing doesn’t aid in healing. The only reason to place a dressing is for pain control. If medication is controlling the pain, the socket will heal without a dressing. Following removal of the dressing, an irrigation device may be provided to help you to keep food particles from lodging in the extraction site.
Infection:
- Occasionally, post-operative infections occur. This usually requires an office visit and clinical examination. Many times, just placing you on an antibiotic for one week will take care of the infection. If it persists, the area will have to be drained and cleaned. Other temporary problems you may experience in the post-operative period include stiffness of the jaws, chafing around the corners of your lips, facial bruising, and blood oozing from the extraction sites.
- The post-operative instruction sheet we will provide should answer many of the questions related to these more common concerns. If not, don’t hesitate to call the office at 864-855-0383.
Wisdom Teeth Recovery FAQs
Most patients begin to feel like they are “over the hump” and on their way to recovery within 3 to 5 days, although recovery varies depending on the extent of surgery and individual healing. Pain and swelling should gradually improve each day, while the extraction sites continue healing over the following weeks.
Swelling is a normal part of recovery and may not become noticeable until the day after surgery. It typically peaks about 2 to 3 days after wisdom teeth removal and should then begin to improve. If swelling begins to worsen rather than improve, contact Upstate OMS for guidance.
Some bleeding, oozing, or redness in the saliva is expected after wisdom teeth removal. Upstate OMS instructs patients to leave the gauze in place over the surgical area for about 30 minutes after surgery. If bleeding continues, additional pressure with gauze may be needed. Contact the office if bleeding does not subside.
Avoid using straws during the early recovery period after wisdom teeth removal because the sucking motion can disturb the blood clot and may cause additional bleeding. Drink directly from a glass instead and follow the post-operative wisdom teeth instructions provided by your surgical team as you recover.
Protecting the blood clot that forms in the extraction site is an important part of healing. Avoid vigorous rinsing or touching the surgical area immediately after surgery, and do not use a straw, as the suction can disturb the clot. Beginning the day after surgery, follow your surgical team’s instructions for gentle oral hygiene and rinsing. If significant pain develops at the surgical site or near the ear about 2 to 3 days after surgery, contact Upstate OMS, as this may indicate a dry socket.
Contact Upstate OMS if bleeding does not subside, pain or swelling begins worsening instead of gradually improving, an elevated temperature persists, or you experience unusual symptoms during recovery. You should also call if increasing pain develops at the extraction site or near the ear a few days after surgery, which may indicate dry socket. If you are concerned about your recovery, contact Upstate OMS for guidance from your surgical team.