What to Expect When You Get Your Wisdom Teeth Removed
The last adult teeth that emerge in the mouth are known as wisdom teeth or third molars. Typically, wisdom teeth develop between the ages of 17 and 21 years. You might not have adequate space in your mouth to accommodate your wisdom teeth. Lack of ample space to accommodate wisdom teeth could lead to teeth shifting. If this happens, your dentist might recommend the removal of wisdom teeth.
Removal of wisdom teeth is a common dental procedure. You’ll have to undergo outpatient surgery to have your wisdom teeth removed. The procedure can be performed under local or general anaesthesia.
The recovery process after the removal of wisdom teeth could take up to one week. However, the recovery period might vary from case to case basis. If your wisdom teeth are impacted, the recovery period could be longer than one week. What should you expect after the removal of your wisdom teeth?
Bleeding
It’s normal to experience bleeding after the removal of your wisdom teeth. To ease with the bleeding, you could bite on a gauze pad and replace the pad when soaked with blood. Avoid lying down flat because this could prolong the bleeding. While lying down, ensure that you prop your head with pillows. It’s also advisable to avoid engaging in physical activities after surgery because this might prolong the bleeding. If you still experience bleeding 24 hours after surgery, you should contact your dentist.
Numbness
During the removal of wisdom teeth, your dentist will introduce you to general or local anaesthesia. In most cases, the anaesthesia does not wear off immediately after surgery. Therefore, it’s normal to feel numb at the surgical site. While your mouth is still numb, you should be careful to avoid biting your tongue or your mouth’s inner side.
Swelling and Soreness
You might also experience swelling and soreness after the extraction of your wisdom teeth. To help relieve the discomfort, you can place an icepack on the outer part of your cheek for 24 hours. For the next 2 to 3 days after surgery, you can place a face cloth soaked in warm water on your cheek.
Rinsing your mouth with warm salty water several times a day can help relieve pain and swelling. Avoid smoking, sucking on straws, or rubbing the surgical site with your tongue because these actions might delay the healing process.