We, at Ridge Oral Surgery, pride ourselves on delivering personalized care with the highest quality oral surgical services in the region. Dr. Mehrotra is an actively practicing, board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon who feels highly privileged to deliver tailored care suited to the individual needs of every patient.
In our own practice, we take considerable pride in being highly trained in both surgical procedures and anesthesia. He has also received some extensive training in oral and maxillofacial surgery and surgery at all national renowned academies that encompass Bellevue Hospital as well as NYU Langone Medical Centre.
We have all the latest available technology at our dentist’s practice, but we are using it to maximize recovery and comfort time for each patient who walks through our doors.
A Guide to Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Wisdom teeth are often pulled out because they usually become problematic for one of more reasons: they impede, crowd, or even become infected. Impacted wisdom teeth may be either trapped underneath the gums or squeezed between the jaws, sometimes bringing in a lot of pain and swelling.
When the wisdom teeth begin to overcrowd the adjacent teeth, it causes them to shift alignment. Partially erupted wisdom teeth pose an increasingly high risk for infections because of the trapping of bacteria between the tooth and the gum.
Understanding when to extract wisdom teeth is essential. Most dentists will remove them surgically in early adulthood, when the patient is between 17 and 25 years of age, when the teeth are fully formed yet complications have begun at this stage. Early removal minimizes painful symptoms and makes recovery easier.
If you notice any symptoms akin to gum swelling or throbbing of teeth, contact us.
What to Expect Right After Surgery
Within the first 24 hours after a surgery for the removal of wisdom teeth. Here’s what to expect:
- Swelling
- Minor bleeding
- After effects of anesthesia.
Swelling in the jaw area is common but can be managed with ice pack treatments, while minor bleeding can easily be managed by gently biting down on gauze pads at your oral surgeon’s advice.
Some discomfort and sensitivity are expected, as well as temporary numbness of the lips or face where facial nerves are close to wisdom tooth roots. A small percentage of people experience numbness after wisdom tooth extraction, but it usually resolves within a few hours or days. If numbness persists for longer than this, it’s smart to contact us to confirm that things are healing as they should.
Pain Management After Wisdom Teeth Extractions
- Over-the-counter pain drugs like ibuprofen are very effective in handling the pain and swelling, but at times, prescription painkillers may become necessary for the first day or so of the operation.
- Cold compresses reduce swelling and pain. It can be applied with ice packs for 20 minutes every hour until within the first 24 hours.
- Gentle saltwater rinses can be done to clean out the extraction site and prevent infection.
Pain that worsens or lasts for over a few days can be a sign of complications such as dry socket. We should be contacted in order to receive further advice and treatment.
Tips for a Smooth Recovery
- Soft foods like yogurts, mashed potatoes, and smoothies put less strain on the extraction site. Avoid solid, crunchy, or spicy foods that may irritate the area and expose you to infection.
- Rest and hydration. Resting or staying away from physical activities can help you heal faster, and hydration should also be optimal.
- Smoking or drinking through a straw, among others, are not allowed in order not to experience complications such as dry socket, where the blood clot that must be present in the extraction site gets dislodged, causing pain and delayed recovery.
Common Side Effects
Swelling of cheeks and jaw is expected after extraction of the impacted wisdom tooth; usually subsides in the vast majority within 48 to 72 hours. In the initial 24 hours, ice packs are beneficial; later on, warm compresses.
One of the common concerns is numbness on the lips after extraction of wisdom tooth, which is usually temporary since the wisdom teeth roots lie close to the face nerves. It will regain sense within a couple of hours or days unless it persists; consult our attention, and we’ll relieve you of complications.
Bleeding is common in the postoperative period and may be managed by compressive gauze pads. Mild ecchymosis of the face is often present but resolves within a few days.
When to Call Your Oral Surgeon
Knowing when to have your wisdom teeth removed is important, but knowing when to call us once you’ve had the surgery is equally as important. While some pain can certainly be expected and occurred with recovery, there are some signs and symptoms that may indicate trouble.
If bleeding becomes excessive, pain gets worse, or numbness doesn’t fade from the lips or face, don’t brush it off. If you have such symptoms as indicative of infection, for instance, fever, pus, or bad odor inside your mouth, you have to call for immediate help.
Dry socket: An irritation condition due to displacement or exposure of the blood clot within the extraction site to the bone. The patient may experience acute pain from this situation and may be slower in recovering. The situation would need urgent treatment.
When Will I Fully Recover after Wisdom Teeth Extraction?
Pain and swelling would peak at the first 48 hours, which can be so controlled with the aid of pain medicine and ice packs.
Most patients feel much better by the end of the first week, and normal activities can be resumed, although care for the healing extraction site is still necessary.
Although initial recovery may be quite rapid, healing of the gums and extraction site takes a few weeks. Stitches generally dissolve or are removed in 7–10 days, but the underlying tissue continues to heal.
If you’re scheduled to undergo the removal of your wisdom teeth or are experiencing complications resulting from a previous procedure, reach out to Ridge Oral Surgery today. Our experienced team will guide you through every step, and our care will ensure an easy and healthy recovery.