Wisdom teeth removal is very common in dentistry, most people including adults and college students do undergo this procedure in their lifetime. The wisdom teeth are the three last set of molars that grow at the back of the gums. Most of them grow badly and might end up being removed from the mouth.
Complications after wisdom teeth extractions are normal, but they can be minimized if the procedure is performed by an experienced oral health professional. It may take up to 2 weeks for the third molars extraction site to heal fully. Giving your body sufficient time to recover is crucial. Proper care of the wound can help minimize complications and promote quick healing.
Well, complications do occur after the removal of third molars, but they can be resolved without any long-lasting damage. Some patients might need special treatments from an oral surgeon after the extraction procedure in order to make the tooth site heal quickly. The oral surgeon might need to stitch the wound and apply some medications in order to help close the wound and reduce healing time.
Wisdom teeth removal recovery timeline
Recovery after tooth removal by an oral surgeon is a gradual process for maintaining oral health. It takes about a week or more for the wound to heal. Normally, blood clots will form after the procedure, reducing the risk of dry socket. Swelling inside and outside the mouth may develop within the next 24 hours after the extraction. However, the recovery time varies for each patient. It is important to note that most people do get infected after oral surgery, which can prolong the healing time.
However, there are some certain things that you can do in order to fasten the wisdom teeth recovery process. Before the end of these articles, you will get to know some of the complications that you should expect after wisdom teeth removal surgery. I will reveal to you some of the complications that you will be most likely to experience, from the day 1 to day 7 at the surgical site.
Day 1
On the day of the extraction surgery, the surgeon will have to sedate the area around the affected tooth. A local anesthetic or general anesthetia will be required. If a local anesthetic is used, you will be fully awake during the procedure, but you will have minimal awareness and memory of the procedure. (1) General anesthesia is used to make the patient to undergo the procedure totally unconscious, with no memory or awareness of the procedure.
Depending on the type of anesthesia and sedative used during wisdom teeth surgery, you may experience dizziness or memory loss throughout the day. It is advisable not to drive yourself after wisdom tooth removal surgery. If possible, avoid going to work or school that day.
On the first day of wisdom teeth removal recovery, blood clots will form and cover the entire area where the tooth was removed. The formation of blood clots is crucial for healing after wisdom teeth surgery. These blood clots help prevent bleeding and protect the wound against infections, such as dry socket. It is important to consult with an oral surgeon for wisdom teeth removal.
After your wisdom teeth removal surgery, your surgeon will provide you with painkillers to manage any discomfort. It is important to follow the instructions and take the prescribed painkillers. Additionally, it is advisable to avoid consuming very hot or cold foods. Stay hydrated by drinking enough water and stick to a diet of liquids or semi-solid foods. Remember to rest and avoid any strenuous activities in order to allow the surgical site to heal properly.
Day 2
On the first day of wisdom teeth surgery recovery, you might experience swelling in your mouth and cheeks. On the second day of wisdom tooth removal surgery, the swelling, pain, and discomfort will improve. But it’s still advisable that you shouldn’t drive yourself or go to work after wisdom tooth surgery. Most patients may still experience drowsiness or confusion from the anesthesia or sedatives used during wisdom teeth removal, in some cases, due to painkillers.
However, if the wisdom tooth removal surgery wasn’t performed properly or if the wrong anesthetic or sedative was used, you may experience intense pain, high fever, excessive bleeding, pus around the surgery site, and swelling on the second day of recovery. At this point, you should understand that your body is healing from the wisdom teeth removal and you shouldn’t take anything that can interfere with the healing process. If the pain is too intense, then you might consider going back to the surgeon that performed the wisdom tooth extraction.
But before your wisdom teeth surgery, don’t drink hot or very cold drinks nor eat foods that require chewing. Avoid smoking, alcohol, strenuous work, or the use of straws for drinking during your wisdom tooth removal or wisdom tooth extraction.
Day 3
On the third day of wisdom tooth extraction recovery, you may feel less pain. But remember, the surgery site is still healing so be gentle to avoid disturbing the blood clots formed there. The blood clots will still be present, but at this point you can resume work or school. The dizziness should have subsided by the third day, but avoid strenuous activities as you may still bruise the healing site.
Using straws, smoking, harsh rinsing or brushing your teeth next to the wisdom tooth extraction site may damage the blood clots formed around the extraction site.
Day 4 – 7
Between the fourth to seventh day of recovery after wisdom tooth extraction, you should feel normal again. Most of the pain and discomforts associated with wisdom teeth must have stopped. But if you still experience severe pain, it may be a sign that something is wrong somewhere. The wound from the wisdom tooth extraction might have been infected. If this is the case, you should contact your surgeon immediately, as they can evaluate the extraction site to determine the problem.
Anyways, between the fourth to seventh day of wisdom tooth extraction recovery, the site is supposed to have healed. Once the site has healed, your stitches from the wisdom teeth removal will start to feel loose and may even come out on their own. Your dentist can now remove any of the stitches that are still remaining on the wisdom tooth extraction surgery site.
Day 8 and Above
After a week of the wisdom teeth removal, the swelling, pain and discomfort should have stopped. You can now resume fully on your normal work or any other activity. You can can now brush your teeth properly, and eat any food of your choice. But whatever you do, you should be cautious and mindful of the extraction site. The area where the wisdom tooth was removed from may be tender for a longer period of time. Some patients heal completely within two week, while others may take longer time to heal.
During the recovery period after wisdom tooth extraction, it is important to visit your dentist office for regular oral examinations. Your dentist will ensure that your mouth has healed properly and check for any complications.
Tips on what to do after wisdom teeth extraction surgery
Immediately after the wisdom tooth surgery, the surgeon will provide clear instructions on promoting healing. He may prescribe pain relievers and medications for discomfort. Dentists often recommend applying an ice pack to the face over the extraction site for 15 minutes. The coldness helps reduce swelling and discomfort.
You should try as much as possible to prevent infection by making use of suitable antiseptic mouth rinse. Sleeping can be very difficult, but raising the head when sleeping can help you to feel more comfortable. Remember to eat soft or liquid foods, avoid hard foods that need chewing. Hard foods can cause pain and damages to the healing wound. According to Medicalnewstoday, foods such as soup, jello, soft noodles, eggs, mashed banana, ground meat or soft bread are suitable soft foods to eat during recovery.
Finally, wisdom teeth removal recovery takes about two weeks with proper aftercare. There are minimal complications after wisdom teeth extraction surgery, if you are able to practice proper aftercare. If the pain gets too intense, or that you started to experience excessive bleeding, yellow or white pus around the surgery site or from the nose and high temperature, then it might be a sign that the wound has been infected. You should visit your dentist regularly for frequent professional oral evaluations throughout the recovery period.