After Extraction of Wisdom Teeth, Paramus, NJ
The majority of the time, wisdom tooth extractions are done under local anesthesia, general anesthesia, or laughing gas (nitrous oxide/oxygen analgesia). You will be informed of these alternatives and the surgical risks (such as sensory nerve injury and sinus problems) prior to the surgery. The gums are sutured after the teeth have been removed. Bite down on the gauze that has been put in your mouth to help reduce bleeding. Until you are ready to be transported home, you will relax at the office under our care. Your postoperative package will come with postoperative instructions, a prescription for painkillers, antibiotics, and a follow-up appointment for suture removal one week after discharge. Please don’t hesitate to contact our Paramus, New Jersey, office at 201-201-8887 if you have any questions.
Our services are offered in a setting with the highest level of safety. We use cutting-edge monitoring technology, and our team is skilled in anesthetic procedures.
How will I feel after surgery to remove my wisdom teeth?
After having your wisdom teeth removed, you can suffer some mild bleeding and discomfort the first day. To prevent getting blood on your pillowcase, cover it with anything. The way that surgery affects each person differs, and the degree of pain may vary from minor discomfort to excruciating agony. After the procedure, swelling of varying degrees is to be anticipated. The swelling should start to go down on the third day after typically reaching its peak on the second. By using ice throughout the first day, you may reduce the amount of swelling you experience. The likelihood of having less swelling the next day decreases with the amount of ice you apply the first day. Even though having a cold near your skin might be slightly irritating, please remember to apply ice the first day. Your jaw muscles will become rigid on the third day, making it difficult to open your mouth regularly. On the second and third days, you may apply wet heat to your face to help your muscles relax and expand. You should often restrict your activities for a few days. Please pay special attention to the post-operative instructions given to you. You will be as comfortable as possible for the first few days after your treatment if you follow our advice. Please give your body some time to start healing before getting back to your usual busy social, academic, or athletic routine. In 3 to 5 days, most patients believe they have overcome their difficulties and are progressing toward recovery.
Are there any issues after wisdom tooth removal?
Like with any medical operation, there may be issues or an unexpected outcome. Patients who have their wisdom teeth removed may encounter issues such as:
- Damage to the sensory nerve
- Sinus communication
- Infections
- Dry Sockets
Our aides will go through your post-operative instructions with your escort after the surgery. As they will help you feel the most comfortable after your operation, we kindly ask that you adhere to these guidelines attentively. If you were given a sedative, you’ll feel relaxed and sleepy when you leave the office. Most patients would rather go home and relax for a few days without having any extra physical or academic activity scheduled. Any medical operation has a chance of producing unforeseen outcomes. These may include infection, slow healing, and numbness or tingling in your lip, chin, or tongue after surgery. During your office appointment, Dr. Shnayder will go through any pertinent post-operative events with you and address any concerns you may have.
Damage to Sensory Nerve:
Sensory nerve damage is a major worry since it affects a nerve that gives the tongue, chin, and lower lip sensation. The lower wisdom teeth’s roots are typically quite close to this nerve. In order to prevent the nerve from being too close to the roots of these teeth, it is often best to have these teeth removed between the ages of 12 and 18. The nerve may sometimes suffer damage during tooth extractions, particularly in elderly individuals. You can feel a tingling or numbing sensation in your lower lip, chin, or tongue as the local anesthetic wears off. If this does happen, it will often last a few days or weeks before going away gradually. Rarely, it may cause a lasting change in feeling that is comparable to receiving a local anesthetic. We believe that before agreeing to surgery, you should be informed of this potential.
Sinus Communication:
Because your top wisdom teeth are so close to your sinuses, removing them might leave a gap between your mouth and a sinus. Once again, if the teeth are extracted at a young age, there is little chance of root development, hence, this issue is quite uncommon. However, if it occurs, it normally heals on its own. In that case, we may offer you additional advice, such as not blowing your nose for two or three days after the procedure. Do not blow your nose; instead, wipe it. If you must sneeze, do it into a tissue while keeping your mouth open. Avoid applying pressure to the sinus region since this might cause the blood clot to mend improperly. Please get in touch with the office if you see this issue developing following the procedure. To seal the opening, an extra operation is rarely required.
Dry Sockets:
The most frequent issue patients have after dental surgery is dry sockets. They develop as a result of the blood clot’s early loss from the empty tooth socket. Smokers and those who use birth control tablets appear to experience this more often. Though they may affect either jaw, they often start in the lower jaw on the third to fifth day. They result in a persistent, deep, dull ache on the afflicted side or sides. Patients may first have an earache that spreads down to the chin.
Oftentimes, the symptoms start in the middle of the night, and your pain medication routine may not be of any use. A prescription change may be necessary as part of treatment. On occasion, applying a medicinal bandage to the empty tooth socket might be useful. This will lessen the discomfort and shield the socket from food crumbs. It may be necessary to change the bandage every day or two for five to seven days until the pain is significantly reduced, with results lasting for 24 to 48 hours. Dressings are often taken off after 2 to 3 days of pain-free behavior.
Healing is not facilitated by the dressing. The sole purpose of applying a dressing is to lessen discomfort. Without a dressing, the socket will mend if pain medicine is managing it. After the dressing has been removed, you can be given an irrigation tool to prevent food scraps from settling at the extraction site.
Infection:
Postoperative infections might happen on occasion. A clinical checkup and office visit are often necessary for this. Most of the time, treating the infection with an antibiotic for only one week is sufficient. If it keeps happening, the area will need to be cleansed and drained. Other transient issues you could have in the days after surgery include jaw stiffness, lip chafing, face bruises, and blood leaking from the extraction sites. Many of your queries about these more typical worries should be addressed in the post-operative instruction leaflet we will provide you. If not, don’t hesitate to contact either our Brooklyn office at 718-395-4700 or our Paramus, New Jersey, office at 201-201-8887.