The expulsion of wisdom teeth is a standout amongst the most widely recognized strategies performed in dentistry once a day. While the vast majority will experience this surgery and do great, a couple of individuals may endure complications. Extreme inconveniences are rare. Following your oral specialist’s post-employable guidelines is the most ideal approach to anticipate them.
Pain: Any surgical procedure comes with a certain degree of discomfort but the pain is well managed with the use of analgesics. Your oral surgeon will prescribe the appropriate medications for your case to keep you comfortable. The first 72 hours after surgery are the most critical and pain needs to be controlled with medications. After that, the pain will subside significantly and you will start to go back to your regular activities. It is important to start eating solid foods slowly and returning to physical activities gradually as well. Listen to your body. If pain and soreness are increasing after three days rather than diminishing, call your oral surgeon because that is a sign that you may be developing complications.
Swelling: After surgery, most people will have swelling of the face which is normal. Just like pain, swelling will subside in a couple of days. Keep your head more elevated when lying down, use ice packs on the first day and stay away from physical activities until the swelling is down.
Dry Socket: Dry socket usually happens after three to four days of the surgery in a small percentage of patients. Pain increases on the third or fourth day and it is severe. It happens when the blood clot is dislodged from the extraction site. It is common among smokers, you should not smoke ideally for two weeks after surgery to avoid complications. It also happens when one rinses vigorously or uses a straw after surgery. Your oral surgeon will be able to help alleviate this pain in case it happens to you.
Excessive Bleeding: Light bleeding is expected after wisdom teeth removal. In order to prevent excessive bleeding, stay away from harder foods like hard bread, bagels, and meats. It is important to stay on a soft diet for at least three days. Also, do not use a straw or swish your mouth vigorously in order not to disrupt the blood clot that is forming during the first three days. If the area starts bleeding, bite on a wet piece of gauze for twenty minutes until the bleeding stops. If that does not work, bite on a wet tea bag for twenty minutes or call your surgeon.
Infections: Infection is caused by destructive bacterial formations on the extraction sites so it is important to keep your mouth clean and avoid anything that may irritate the tissues such as acidic drinks, sodas, spicy foods, and harder foods. Also, minimize snacking through the day.
If you develop any unusual symptom, call your oral surgeon immediately. Even though rare, complications sometimes happen even to those who follow all of their surgeon’s recommendations.
To learn more about your risks and benefits when removing wisdom teeth, call Dr. Erakat today at (732) 297-7000!
