Complications After Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Patients who have wisdom teeth extraction enjoy having better dental health. This type of oral surgery is one of the most common procedures in a majority of dental clinics. Even so, some patients still suffer from complications from the surgery. If you want to find out what complications you may have after wisdom teeth extraction, here are the facts.

Nerve injury

A wisdom teeth extraction may lead to a trigeminal nerve injury. This can result in pain and tingling sensation. It can also lead to numbness in the gums, tongue, teeth, lower lip, and chin. This often lasts for up to a few months. Yet, if the nerve had severe damage, the nerve injury may become permanent.

This type of injury can interrupt activities like drinking and eating. It may also affect the way the patient speaks because of the weakness in the lips and tongue. This is a rare instance. Dentists are always careful not to touch the trigeminal nerve during wisdom teeth removal.

Dry socket

Also known as alveolar osteitis, a dry socket is one of the common complications of wisdom teeth removal. This happens when a blood clot does not develop in the tooth socket. The blood clot may also disappear or dislodge. A dry socket can happen about three to five days after the wisdom teeth surgery.

The socket causes throbbing pain in the jaw or gum area. The intensity is much like that of a toothache. An unpleasant taste or smell may also come from the dry socket. The socket might reveal the jawbone instead of a blood clot.

A patient is at risk of developing a dry socket if the patient smokes and is more than 25 years old. Failing to follow the dentist’s aftercare instructions can cause a dry socket as well. Visiting the dentist after the wisdom teeth extraction can confirm if the patient has dry socket. The dentist can rinse the debris out of the socket. Then, the dentist will cover it with a medicated dressing. This process will repeat until the socket heals.

Excessive bleeding

The patient should experience bleeding within about the first 12 hours after the procedure. This is enough time for the blood clot to form over the wisdom teeth extraction site. The dentist will always provide aftercare instructions to reduce bleeding. Patients should rinse the mouth with salt water and avoid smoking. They should eat soft foods to save the extraction site from excessive chewing pressure.

Swelling and pain

These are normal after dental extractions. These usually last within the first one to three days after the procedure. The dentist may prescribe over-the-counter medications. If there is persistent pain, the patient should visit the dentist right away.

Restriction in mouth opening

A procedure like a wisdom teeth extraction can cause the patient to experience trismus for a short while. Trismus is the discomfort or restriction in opening the mouth. If there is a lengthy jaw stiffness, the dentist can prescribe pain medications and jaw opening devices. There are also muscle relaxants and heat therapy to treat this complication.