How long does it take to recover from wisdom teeth surgery?

Many people shy away from wisdom tooth surgery because they are afraid of pain and inconvenience, both during the procedure and in the days afterwards.

In fact, the procedure itself is painless, and usually reduces pain and inconvenience associated with failing molar teeth.

And the recovery, while it does involve a few steps, is usually quite easy as well.

Let’s take a quick look at a wisdom tooth extraction at Prevent Dental Suite and what you can expect afterwards.

Overview

Your wisdom teeth, technically your back molars, are the final teeth to come into your mouth. They come in on upper and lower jaws, most often between the ages of 17 and 21.

It is quite common to not have enough room in the mouth for wisdom teeth to enter without pushing other teeth out of place, which can lead to a variety of problems, including impactions.

If your wisdom teeth don’t have proper room to come in, the wisdom tooth extraction is the recommended course of treatment.

Because this is a surgery, it does come with a recovery period, normally of about a week (possibly longer in cases of impaction). Let’s take a look at that!

The Surgery

The surgery is usually an outpatient procedure. You will be given local or general anaesthesia, depending on which sedation is used.

If you receive general anaesthesia, you should be prepared to have someone drive you home.

After the surgery, you will gradually regain feeling in your mouth, and some pain and swelling are normal.

The first day will likely include some blood in your mouth. You can begin using an ice pack on your face immediately.

Your dentist will discuss the appropriate painkiller, prescription or OTC, with you.

Directly after surgery, you should only eat soft foods and avoid caffeine, alcohol, and smoking. Also, do not use a straw as it places ‘sucking’ pressure on the extraction site.

Long-term Aftercare

Most patients are back to normal in 3-4 days, while if teeth were impacted or at an awkward angle, it can take a week or more.

The wound doesn’t completely heal for months, so there is a slight possibility of infection even after the recovery period.

Daily activities can go back to normal the next day, but you should stay away from anything that might dislodge the blood clot or stitches on the wound.

Some activities to avoid are:

spitting
smoking
strenuous exercise
drinking with a straw

Call your Prevent Dental Suite dentist immediately if the bleeding or pain is excessive and unbearable.

All bleeding and pain should be gone within a week of surgery.

Other symptoms that require an immediate response include:

trouble swallowing or breathing
fever
bleeding that continues when you hold gauze on it
swelling that gets worse over time
medication not effective at dulling the pain
numbness
pus or blood coming out of your nose

Home Care

The best way to avoid post-operative complications or infection is to take good care at home.

You will receive exact instructions on what to do, and you may hear your dentist tell you not to brush, rinse, or floss, for the first time, ever!

Cleaning:

Keep the wound clean by rinsing with saltwater. Don’t spit the water out. Rather, tip your head over the sink and let the water fall out of your mouth.
Absorb excess blood by dabbing the wound with gauze.

You might be given a prescription for antibiotics while you recover. Always be certain to finish a course of antibiotics if you begin one.

Food to Eat and to Avoid

Hydration and nutrition is a key part of recovery, although just after surgery, you might not have much appetite. Your dentist will recommend safe foods, ones that won’t disrupt your stitches or blood clot.

These are normally soft foods, including:

apple sauce
cottage cheese
soup
mashed potatoes
pudding
smoothies

On the other hand, avoid:

Hot foods that that can burn the sensitive site of the extraction
Seeds or nuts that can get stuck in the hole where the wisdom tooth was extracted
Vigorous drinking or slurping, which can dislodge your blood clot or ruin stitches

Outlook

Wisdom tooth extraction is a common and safe procedure. By understanding it fully and taking proper health precautions, you can be back up and health in less than a week.

High-quality Dental Care in Kallangur

Prevent Dental Suite is a team of dedicated dental professionals. We provide gentle and patient-oriented care, and offer the best-quality dental service, beginning the moment a patient enters our office.

Dr Shilpa Gupta is the resident dentist Kallangur combines many years’ experience with personable service. To learn more about our fantastic team, go to our team page.