If you’re planning to have surgery to take out wisdom teeth, you should be aware of what to do following the surgery. In this blog, we will share with you important post-operative care tips, as well as complications to look out for.
Post-operative care
Practicing good post-operative care will help to achieve the best outcome for wisdom teeth removal, making the treatment process as safe and pleasant as possible.
Here are some of the things to keep in mind as you enter the post-surgery recovery phase.
Get plenty of rest: The importance of rest and relaxation cannot be over-emphasized. Even for minor surgeries, the body undergoes trauma that only rest can help it recover from. Take a few days to a week to recuperate from the procedure before returning to your normal routine, including school or work.
Pain medication: You will be given one or more types of pain medication after the wisdom teeth removal surgery. Remember is to take the medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Since it will take a while for the painkillers to become effective, don’t forget to take your medication in anticipation of the pain rather than after it sets in.
Bite and chew with caution: Do not try to eat solid food too soon after your wisdom teeth removal. Since solid food can knock out the protective blood clots that have formed over your wounds, eating too soon after can cause a nasty infection. Eat only semi-solid food for several days to a week after your surgery, and drink lots of water.
Cold compression/ pain relief: You will likely experience some inflammation of the soft tissues in your mouth after the surgery. You may apply cold compression (ice cubes wrapped in a clean towel) to the jaw area.
Be careful what you put in your mouth: The two major culprits of infection and poor healing to avoid at all costs are drinking straws and cigarettes. Both of these things involve sucking air into the mouth, which with enough force can knock out one of those mentioned blood clots. So take a break from smoking and any other habit that involves putting things in your mouth.
Complications and side effects
Like all dental procedures, there is always the risk of side effects, no matter how minimal the risk may be.
The goal of this section is to help manage your expectations regarding the process and to explain some of the possible complications.
Loose teeth: This is due to the teeth now having less bone to hold them together. Another related condition is the fracturing of the associated teeth. Teeth with large fillings are more prone to this as they are weak in nature.
Dry Socket: This occurs when either the clot fails to form effectively around the wound, or the clot forms but is prematurely shed. The uncovered bone can result in a considerable amount of pain.
The pain usually lasts for two weeks or more, passing away on its own. This condition is known to have no treatment.
Swelling: Occurring in the affected region, this often lasts for seven to ten days before the tenderness becomes completely gone.
Nerve injury: This is a rare, usually short-lived problem if it occurs. It can result in numbness in the lower lips, tongue, and cheeks. It could likewise affect taste and feeling from your tongue area.
Jawbone fracture: Occurs through the force applied when removing the tooth. This situation is extremely rare and in most cases only happens in elderly people, prone due to fragile bone and/or bone disease.
Paresthesia: Occurs when nerves are bruised or damaged during the tooth removal process. Some patients may be at high risk for this type of nerve damage due to the way their tooth roots are anatomically formed in relation to their nerves. Patients at high risk for paresthesia are typically prescribed anti-inflammatory steroids, starting a day prior to their procedure. These steroids will significantly reduce inflammation experienced after the procedure.
Looking for a Canberra dentist for safe wisdom teeth removal? Molonglo Dental Surgery can help.
If you’re experiencing dental pain or suspect a problem with your wisdom tooth, book an appointment with our Friendly Canberra Dentist in Molonglo Valley – contact Molonglo Dental Surgery at 02 6287 1222.
