Wisdom teeth or third molars are the last set of human teeth to erupt. The place they occupy in the mouth is at the back of the oral cavity. They commonly arise between ages 17-25.
Mostly, they don’t cause pain; however, sometimes they get stuck in the jaw bone and bring pain. In such situations, it has to be extracted. The extraction of wisdom teeth involves some time for recovery and removal of the ache.
So, if you have had the procedure of extraction of your wisdom tooth lately or are planning to do so, collect all these dental care expert tips provided in this blog to handle your pain and recover quickly.
Things to Know Before Wisdom Teeth Removal
How are the wisdom teeth extracted?
A dentist or surgeon will make an injection of a local anesthetic in the area. He might need to make an incision if necessary to open the gum to get access to the tooth.
He might be able to take the tooth out in one piece or it could have to be taken out in parts. This should only take a few minutes, up to 20 minutes, or more.
Pre-extraction Preparation
Preparing for wisdom teeth removal is all about ensuring that the process and recovery will all go normal. So let’s take a look at what are things you should do before going for the procedure:
Share all the information related to your health issues and what medication you are taking to avoid any complications during or after the procedure.
Ask the patient about the sedation.
Every time you undergo wisdom teeth extraction, be sure to always discuss the possibility of sedation. Sedation effectively minimizes the anxiety and pain associated with the procedure.
Highly gagging patients and those who are fearful of going to the dental clinic may benefit greatly from it. Sedation calms down the patient and even induces sleep during the extraction, thus making it much more tolerable.
Hence, you would be interested in discussing details with your dentist concerning your comfort level and possible sedation options so that you know which one will best suit your case.
Prepare Recovery
This is the phase that you must take very seriously. Consider all the dos and don’ts your dentist has been asking you and ensure you maintain the right hygiene.
Recovery Time
The healing time is patient status, so it can take longer than anticipated. Swelling and pain in the mouth are at least two weeks, although, in most cases, they’re at worst during the first three days.
Is Wisdom Teeth Extraction Painful?
The extraction procedure is not painful per se since anesthetics are administered before the extraction; hence, the region will already be numb by the time it has attained this stage.
After removing Wisdom teeth, the pain may be negligible or pretty sore in general. Overall, the extent to which the patient complains about pain, the scale on which the procedure was done, and how well you followed up with postoperative care.
Do you think complications can arise after the procedure?
Complications arising after the removal of wisdom teeth are extremely rare. Still, it is not impossible. If you do not observe an appropriate schedule to take proper care of your mouth maintenance, then there’s a probability that you may develop some of the following complications:
Dry sockets: This is the most common complication, and it appears to be painful. It may also be treated by medicated dressings. Dry sockets are caused when the blood clot that has been sown at the tooth’s extraction site becomes dislodged, exposing the bone below it.
Nerve damage: This takes place during the extraction procedure and leads to either transitory or permanent paresthesia, particularly of the lip, tongue, or chin.
Infection: Incidence is very rare, but if the bacteria do penetrate the surgery site, it could occur.
Heavy bleeding: Although some degree of bleeding can be classed as normal post-extraction, profuse bleeding might be significant enough to necessitate a re-do action.
Risk-enhancing factors: Swollen impaction, nerves close to the proximal location. Poor oral hygiene risk.
Summon your dentist immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Extreme pain
- Severe bleeding
- Fever lasting more than two days
- Swelling continues to increase
- Discharge of pus from the tooth extraction area
- Numbness that is extremely severe and not resolving
How long will you have postoperative pain after the extraction of your wisdom teeth?
Much of the pain associated with the extraction of your wisdom teeth would be in the range of some days to a week or more.
Aching and numb feelings in the face are going to stop after the first two days after surgery, but they fade off after at least one week. You will have to be stiff and sensitive in your jaw for at least a week or as long as two weeks, depending on the complexities of the extraction, not to mention how you’re healing.
Top tips for managing post-extraction pain and rapid recovery from wisdom teeth extraction
It would be anticipated that the patient would have jaw stiffness, pain, and tenderness for a period of one to two weeks after the extraction of the wisdom tooth. The experience relating to the pain felt has huge variability.
This depends on how complex the procedure is and their healing ability. To minimize post-extraction pain and to help you in your speedy recovery, the following is set out elaborately for expert tips.
Aftercare for Your Tooth Extraction after Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Pain
You should use over-the-counter anti-pain medicines, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, to prevent the pain from becoming severe. Use such drugs every 3–4 hours when needed; again, however, always according to what your dentist or doctor tells you about dosage and timing. If you are prescribed stronger painkillers you will follow up on the prescription also in that regard.
Hemostasis/Control of Bleeding
Whatever the reason, extraction always leaves some amount of blood flowing. Haemostasis:
- Immediate Control of Bleeding
- Placement of a sterile gauze or cotton wool over the extraction for at least 10 minutes.
- Soaking Gauze
- Place a dampened gauze pad over the region of your lost blood and then bite down on it lightly for an hour. Replace them with fresh pads every 20 minutes if the bleeding does not stop.
Bleeding Cautions in the Diet
A soft or liquid diet should be followed within the first three to five days of tooth extraction. This is because maximum healing occurs during this time. Consider:
What to Eat
Pureed Foods: mashed potatoes, yogurt, smoothies, applesauce, soups, and other pureed foods.
what to Avoid
Hard, crunchy, and chewy foods tend to lodge in the extraction site. Avoid using things like nuts, popcorn, chips, and seeds.
Rinse Mouth
Keep yourself clean is one of the most important things about recovery:
- Saline Rinse: Swab your mouth with salt water. One-half teaspoon of salt dissolved in one cup of warm water.
- After Meals: Irrigate the first week after meals to clear out what’s left at the extraction site.
Normally what to expect after the removal of wisdom teeth?
There is some discomfort, swelling, and other reactions after having your wisdom teeth extracted:
Pain
You will feel pain for the first 48 hours, but it will go significantly down after 1-2 days. Pain is an individual feeling. Most patients feel worse and swollen on the third or fourth day.
Swelling
Swelling occurs inside as well as outside the mouth. Swelling peek on 2nd to 3rd day after surgery.
You’re going to be sore in the jaw. You’ll not be able to open wide for a few days.
Teeth on both sides of the socket of the wisdom tooth have been sore for months.
Bad breath would occur for up to a week.
Sutures
You are going to be stitched together, and stitches will dissolve, but you’ll start brushing them off after 3-4 days because food will get stuck in them.
Bleeding
You can regulate the oozing by sucking on some cotton gauze or handkerchief for 3 to 5 minutes.
You feel feebler than normal because your body tries to expend energy in healing those areas.
Winding Up
This blog post contains all that you are supposed to know about the extraction of the wisdom tooth from what you must know before surgery, including normal symptoms you ought to expect and how to manage your pain with easy ways of healing.
