Possible Wisdom Teeth Complications
Wisdom teeth extraction is one of the most common types of oral surgery, and in most cases, the treatment has a brief healing time and presents no complications. However, as with any surgical procedure, it is possible for complications to arise, though carefully following your dentist’s aftercare instructions dramatically limits the risk of such complications. If you do see any signs of complications following wisdom teeth extraction, contact your dentist right away. Complications could include prolonged or excessive bleeding, prolonged discomfort or swelling, limited ability to open the mouth, lip numbness, or the well-known and widely dreaded dry socket. Prevention of, and treatment for, each of these complications differs, and you should work closely with your dentist to resolve complications quickly and allow proper healing to progress.
Some amount of bleeding, pain, and swelling should be expected after a wisdom teeth extraction, just as these things would be present after any surgery. These symptoms should subside within one to three days after extraction. Pain and swelling can often be managed with over-the-counter medications, though prescriptions may be provided when needed. If pain and swelling persist for more than a few days, contact your dentist and arrange a follow-up visit. Bleeding should subside within eight to 12 hours after wisdom teeth extraction as the blood clot forms at the surgical site. You should pay special attention to this healing blood clot, making sure to keep it safe and clean by eating soft foods, gently rinsing the mouth, and avoiding smoking. If bleeding continues for longer than a day or so, or if bleeding appears after stopping, contact your dentist right away, as this indicates an interference with healing and should be addressed.
Shortly following your wisdom teeth extraction, you may find that it’s difficult to open your mouth fully or comfortably. This condition is called trismus, and it’s characterized by stiffness in the jaw, which usually occurs because the jaw has been held open widely for the duration of a surgical procedure. When trismus is prolonged, or if the jaw continues to feel stiff after a few days, talk to your dentist for treatment suggestions. They might use mechanical devices to relax and retrain the jaw, or they may rely on heat therapy or muscle relaxants to ease the jaw back into mobility. While rare, some patients report lip numbness following wisdom teeth extraction. Because of proximity to the inferior alveolar nerve, removal of the wisdom teeth could damage this nerve and cause numbness in the jaw or lips. In most cases, this is temporary, though it could be permanent in more severe cases. However, this is extremely rare.
More common than lip numbness but no less painful, a dry socket is the number one thing to avoid after wisdom teeth surgery. Dry sockets form when the blood clot that’s protecting a fresh surgical site is dislodged, exposing the nerve beneath the gums and inside the jaw to food debris, air, and other irritants. Dry socket isn’t common, but it’s notorious enough that you should do whatever you can to avoid a dry socket from forming. Smoking is the number one culprit when it comes to creating dry sockets, though other sucking actions, like with a straw, or agitation, like gargling or aggressively swishing liquid, could dislodge the blood clot and lead to a dry socket. This condition is most likely to develop within three to five days after extraction, as the blood clot is still forming, and is characterized by sharp or throbbing pain at the surgical site. To ensure proper healing and take care of the pain dry sockets cause, see your dentist right away if your surgical site hurts a few days after extraction, and, to reduce the risk of complications, be sure to closely follow your dentist’s recommendations before and after your wisdom teeth extraction.