Necessary care after wisdom tooth surgery
What happens if I suffer nerve damage during an impacted wisdom tooth extraction?
The most serious complication associated with wisdom tooth extraction is nerve damage to the tongue’s inferior alveolar nerve or lingual nerve. Although this complication is rare, it requires great attention to prevent it. There are varying degrees of severity with which this trauma can occur. In the simplest forms, the nerve is touched or scratched, causing the patient to have a long-term numbing effect that, with the necessary care after wisdom tooth surgery, will recover within a few days.
If the nerve is cut even a small amount, the tingling sensation can follow the patient for several weeks or even months. In the worst case, when the nerve is severed across the lower lip or tongue or numb chin area, it may follow the patient for life. This complication is called hypoesthesia and is a rare but real threat.
In dental surgery, we take all measures to prevent this complication from occurring. We believe that the key to success is an early risk assessment associated with a careful review of panoramic radiographs.
If it is determined that the patient is at high risk, we will try every possible alternative to tooth extraction or ensure that it is performed only after the patient is satisfied with the risks, in the specialized department of maxillofacial surgery in the hospital. The specialists of Raya Day Clinic have never seriously damaged the tooth nerve during the numerous surgeries they have performed and have a brilliant track record.
Post-Wisdom Tooth Surgery Care
Immediately after wisdom tooth surgery, apply sterile gauze to the surgical site for 20 minutes. You will be given more sterile gauze to take home. If there is excessive bleeding, apply the gauze again firmly for 20 minutes. To prevent bleeding from the socket, avoid rinsing the tooth as this will make things worse. In the rare case that bleeding cannot be controlled at home, please visit your nearest emergency room or dental clinic.
Take painkillers immediately after leaving the clinic, as they work best when taken before the anesthetic wears off and before the pain starts after the procedure. Wisdom tooth extraction can be painful with significant bruising, so pack them well but never exceed the prescribed dose. Combining strong paracetamol with ibuprofen at 3-hourly intervals works well. Do not take any medication that your doctor does not allow you to take.
If you have been prescribed antibiotics by us, please follow them for a week. Our specialists only prescribe antibiotics if necessary.
Expect facial swelling that can sometimes develop around the surgical site. Use cold applications for the first 48 hours. The best way is to wrap an ice pack in a towel and hold it on the wisdom tooth surgery site for 5 to 10 minutes. Repeat several times every hour for the first 2 days until the swelling has significantly decreased. Do not confuse this normal swelling caused by trauma with an abscess.
Expect a condition called trismus, where the patient cannot open their mouth properly. Stick to your aftercare and soft diet and be patient. Improvement will occur over the next few days.s
Another common and sometimes severe complication is dry socket. This is a long and painful process that is accompanied by a strong odor or taste. Dry socket pain can be excruciating and can last for 2-3 weeks after a tooth extraction. Please contact us and we can schedule an appointment to treat and relieve your dry socket. Do not confuse dry socket with milder forms of post-operative pain or swelling and bruising.
Avoid drinking any alcohol as it can interfere with the healing process and reduce the effectiveness of your antibiotics or, worse, interfere with them and make you weaker.
Avoid smoking as it interferes with healing and increases the risk of developing dry socket.
Avoid brushing directly over the wound for the first 48 hours. Brush the rest of your teeth gently with a soft toothbrush.
Avoid using mouthwash for the first 24 hours. Allow the socket to form its clot without disturbing it. After a day, you should start rinsing your mouth frequently. For best results, make your mouthwash by diluting a teaspoon of salt in a small cup of warm water. Repeat every 3-4 hours for the first 3-5 days.
Avoid drinking through a straw, which creates negative pressure in the mouth and may disrupt the healing clot and cause bleeding.
Avoid a soft, watery diet for a week after wisdom tooth surgery.
Avoid any stress or strenuous physical activity for a week, and of course, avoid any exercise.
A week later, come back to our dental office to remove the stitches we used to close the surgical site and take a look at the healing wound.
