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What do I have to do after the completion of Wisdom teeth extraction?

If the wisdom tooth surgery is performed under Local anaesthetic injection you need to wait till you regain normal sensation before eating or drinking.

If you have sleep dentistry, general aesthetic or intravenous sedation you may feel light headed, sleepy or nauseated for a while. Oral Surgeon or Anaesthesiologist will monitor you until you are fully recovered. You will not be able to drive vehicles or use machinery for at least 24- 48 hours.

Many Dental Surgeon and Oral Surgeons in Melbourne will advise you to take pain relieving tablets before the anaesthetic wears off.

It is essential to keep the dental surgery sites as clean as possible for the first few weeks after surgery. It may be difficult to brush your teeth next to the sites of the extraction, in such cases you need to use mouth rinses on regular basis.

Usually it may be prudent to take couple of days off work and avoid strenuous exercise for this time.

What may I expect after the wisdom teeth surgery?

After any minor oral operation a certain amount of discomfort and swelling is inevitable but healing is usually straightforward providing a few simple measures are taken and the mouth is kept as clean as possible.

• 1. Discomfort and Swelling

  It is common to experience some discomfort and swelling both on the inside and outside of your mouth after the wisdom teeth surgery. This usually peaks on the first three days but it may take up to a week for the swelling and two weeks for the soreness to resolve. Often the Oral Surgeon or Dental Surgeon will prescribe you Antibiotic and/or Pain relief tablets.

   

• 2. Jaw Stiffness, Limited mouth opening

  You may also find that your jaw is stiff and you may need to eat a soft diet for a week or so.

   

• 3. Bleeding and Bruising

  A small amount of blood oozing in the first few hours is normal but should soon stop. Avoid vigorous mouth rinsing, alcohol consumption and smoking for the first 72 hours to leave the wound undisturbed.

   

  Should the area bleed again when you get home this can usually be stopped by applying pressure over the area for at least 10 minutes with a rolled up handkerchief or gauze.

   

  Contact your Oral Surgeon or Dental Surgeon Immediately if the pain, swelling or bleeding was severe. Afterhours or during holidays you need to contact your local hospital.

   

  Bruising of the facial skin may also develop which may take a fortnight for the bruising to fade away.

   

• 4. Altered sensation of the lip, chin or the tongue

  There are two nerves that lie very close to the roots of the lower wisdom teeth. One of these nerves supplies feeling to your lower lip, chin and lower teeth. The other supplies feeling to your tongue and helps with taste. Sometimes these nerves may be bruised or injured when a wisdom tooth is taken out. This can alter the sensation in your lip, chin or tongue. Most cases are uneventful, few are transient alteration in sensation up to 18 months and very few may last longer. These risks may be higher if your tooth is in a difficult position.

   

  An Increasing number of Oral Surgeon or Dental Surgeons now is using the new technique (Coronoctomy) to reduce the risk of nerve damage. By removing the upper portion of the tooth and leaving the roots untouched, nerve is put to much less risk.

   

Oral Hygiene after surgery :

Hot salt water mouth baths or mouth rinses will help to keep your mouth clean and aid healing. Do not rinse vigorously.

As mouth opening may be restricted, try to eat soft food and clean your mouth thoroughly afterwards.

If any sutures (stitches) are inserted they will usually dissolve within 2-3 weeks unless you are advised otherwise.

As the above information is a general advise, please make sure to discuss and communicate any questions with your Oral Surgeon or Dental Surgeon