Wisdom Tooth Removal
Right After Surgery
Keep the gauze pad on the surgery site for 30 minutes, then remove and throw it away.
Don’t rinse your mouth or touch the wound for the first day to prevent bleeding.
Start your prescribed pain medication as soon as you feel discomfort.
Rest for the day; only resume normal activity when you feel ready.
Apply ice packs to your cheeks where surgery was done (see swelling section).
Bleeding
Some bleeding or redness in your saliva is normal.
If bleeding is heavy, gently clear your mouth, then bite down on a fresh gauze pad for 30 minutes. Repeat if needed.
If bleeding continues, use a moistened black tea bag for 30 minutes (tannic acid helps clotting).
If you’re concerned, call our office at 262-696-9559.
Swelling
Swelling is normal and peaks 2–3 days after surgery.
Use ice packs on your cheeks for the first 36 hours (as much as possible while awake). After 36 hours, switch to moist heat.
Jaw stiffness and swelling may last several days—this is normal.
Pain Management
For mild pain, take 1–2 Tylenol or Extra Strength Tylenol every 3–4 hours.
Or take 2–3 ibuprofen (200 mg each) up to four times daily (max 3200 mg/day for adults). Don’t combine Tylenol and ibuprofen.
For severe pain, use your prescribed medication as directed.
Don’t drive, use machinery, or drink alcohol while on pain medication.
Pain should lessen each day—call us if it doesn’t.
Diet
After anesthesia, start with liquids (no straws).
Eat soft foods, chewing away from surgery sites.
Eat high-calorie, high-protein foods and drink plenty of fluids (at least 5–6 glasses daily).
Don’t skip meals—it helps you heal faster.
Stand up slowly after lying down to avoid dizziness.
Oral Hygiene
Don’t rinse your mouth for the first 24 hours.
Starting the day after surgery, rinse gently 5–6 times a day with warm salt water (1 tsp salt in 1 cup water), especially after meals.
Skin Discoloration
Bruising (black, blue, green, or yellow) may appear 2–3 days after surgery—this is normal.
Apply moist heat to help it fade.
Antibiotics
Take antibiotics as prescribed.
Stop and call us if you develop a rash or any reaction.
Call our office at 262-696-9559 with any questions.
What to Expect After Surgery
Some bleeding and pain are normal on the first day.
Swelling peaks on day two and starts to go down on day three.
Use ice packs on day one—even if uncomfortable.
Jaw stiffness is common; use moist heat after the first day.
Most people feel better and are on the mend after 3–5 days.
What Will I Feel Like after Wisdom Teeth Removal Surgery?
On the first day after surgery, you may experience some minor bleeding and pain. You should cover your pillowcase with something so that you don’t get any blood on it. Each individual’s reaction to surgery varies, and the sensation of pain can range from mild discomfort to severe pain. A variable amount of swelling can be expected following the surgery. This swelling usually peaks on the second day and should begin resolving on the third day. You can limit the amount of swelling you will have by using ice for the entire first day. The more ice you use the first day, the less swelling you are likely to have on the second day. Please remember to put ice on the first day even if it is somewhat uncomfortable to have the cold next to your skin. On the third day, you will notice that your jaw muscles are stiff, and it is difficult to open your mouth normally. You can apply moist heat to your face on the second and third day allowing your muscles to relax more and open wider. Most of the time you will want to limit your activities for a few days. We ask that you follow your post-operative instructions closely. Doing so will make you as comfortable as possible during the first few days following your procedure. Please allow time for your body to begin healing before resuming an active social, academic, or athletic schedule. Most patients feel like they are over the hump and on their way to recovery in 3 to 5 days.
Are There Any Problems after the Extraction of Wisdom Teeth?
As with any medical procedure, there can be complications or an unanticipated result. Some complications that patients undergoing Wisdom Tooth Extraction may experience include: Damage to the sensory nerve that supplies sensation to the lips and tongue, sinus communication, infections and dry sockets.
After the procedure, our assistants will review your post-operative instructions with your escort. We ask that you follow these instructions closely, as they will make you most comfortable following your procedure. If you were sedated, you will be comfortable and drowsy when you leave the office. Most patients prefer to go home and rest with no other physical or scholastic activities planned for a few days. With any medical procedure, there can be unexpected results. These can include delayed healing, infection and post-operative numbness or tingling in your lip, chin, or tongue. The oral surgeon will review relevant post-operative events with you and answer any questions during your office visit.
Nausea and Vomiting
In the event of nausea and/or vomiting following surgery, do not take anything by mouth for at least an hour, including the prescribed medicine.
You should then sip on coke, tea, or ginger ale. You should sip slowly over a fifteen-minute period.
When the nausea subsides you can begin taking solid foods and the prescribed medicine.
Other Complications
If numbness of the lip, chin, or tongue occurs there is no cause for alarm. As reviewed in your consultation, this is usually temporary in nature. You should be aware that if your lip or tongue is numb, you could bite it and not feel the sensation. Call our doctors at 262-696-9559 if you have any questions.
Slight elevation of temperature immediately following surgery is not uncommon. If the temperature persists, notify the office. Tylenol or ibuprofen should be taken to reduce the fever.
You should be careful going from the lying down position to standing. You could get light headed from low blood sugar or medications. Before standing up, you should sit for one minute before getting up.
Occasionally, patients may feel hard projections in the mouth with their tongue. They are not roots; they are the bony walls which supported the tooth. These projections usually smooth out spontaneously. If not, they can be removed by one of our doctors.
If the corners of your mouth are stretched, they may dry out and crack. Your lips should be kept moist with an ointment such as Vaseline.
Sore throats and pain when swallowing are not uncommon. The muscles get swollen. The normal act of swallowing can then become painful. This will subside in 2-3 days.
Stiffness (Trismus) of the jaw muscles may cause difficulty in opening your mouth for a few days following surgery. This is a normal post-operative event which will resolve in time.
Finally
Sutures are placed in the area of surgery to minimize post-operative bleeding and to help healing.
Sometimes they become dislodged. This is no cause for alarm. Just remove the suture from your mouth and discard it.
The sutures will be removed approximately one week after surgery.
The removal of sutures requires no anesthesia or needles. It takes only a minute or so, and there is usually no discomfort associated with this procedure.
The pain and swelling should subside more and more each day following surgery. If your post-operative pain or swelling worsens or unusual symptoms occur, call our office for instructions: 262-696-9559. There will be a void where the tooth was removed. The void will fill in with new tissue gradually over the next month.
In the meantime, the area should be kept clean, especially after meals, with salt water rinses or a toothbrush.
Your case is unique, no two mouths are alike. Discuss any problems with the trained experts best able to effectively help you like with our doctors or your family dentist.
Brushing your teeth is okay – just be gentle at the surgical sites.
A dry socket is when the blood clot gets dislodged prematurely from the tooth socket.
Symptoms of pain at the surgical site and even pain near the ear may occur 2-3 days following surgery. Call the office if this occurs: 262-696-9559.
If you are involved in regular exercise, be aware that your normal nourishment intake is reduced.
Exercise may weaken you. If you get lightheaded, stop exercising.
