Dr. Khader and her team at Community Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery want you to have the best recovery possible after your wisdom tooth surgery. The goals for your postoperative recovery are: Appropriate pain management, prevention of complications such as infections and dry sockets, and return to pre-surgical function as quickly as possible.
In preparation for your wisdom tooth surgery, you may have a number of questions. We hope to answer those for you here.
How Long Does Wisdom Tooth Removal Take?
Wisdom tooth removal surgery is an outpatient procedure and takes 45-90 minutes to complete. Every patient is different, and the expected time that you will be at the office will defer according to the complexity of the procedure. Dr. Khader will discuss with you at your consultation appointment the expected time that you will be at the office after she reviews your xrays and performs the clinical examination.
How To Manage Pain After Getting Wisdom Teeth Removed
Pain after oral surgery could be challenging. At Community Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, we will provide you with a variety of mechanisms to make your recovery as comfortable as possible. Some of these mechanisms involve medications, and others involve non-pharmacologic mechanisms such as application of ice to the face and appropriate diet selection.
Healing begins once the teeth are removed; a blood clot quickly forms over the teeth extraction sockets. One of the most uncomfortable experiences after oral surgery occurs when that blood clot dissolves or disintegrates after surgery. That condition is commonly referred to as a dry socket: It is important to follow proper post-operative care instructions to prevent this condition. It is also important to notify your team if your pain is not controlled with the pain management regimen that was prescribed to you.
- Pain Management: Preventive pain management is the most reliable method of controlling your pain after surgery. When you leave our office, your face will feel numb as a result of the local anesthesia. Dr. Khader will use a long-lasting local anesthetic agent that sometimes lasts 4-6 hours. This will give you ample time to get settled at home and take the recommended pain medication that was discussed with you at the appointment. If you wait until pain is felt and then take those medications, it will be much harder to control your pain. Dr. Khader emphasizes using non-opioid pain medications as the most effective and safest method to control your pain.
- Ice is your best friend: Using ice on the face (and eating cold and soft items such as smooth ice cream) will help with postoperative pain and swelling. We will recommend the use of ice on the face 20 minutes on and 10 minutes off. You can use disposable ice packs or packs of frozen vegetables from your freezer. You should continue using ice for 48-72 hours, as your swelling will peak at the 72-hour mark.
- Cleaning: When brushing your teeth near the extraction site, avoid disrupting the wound. It is very reasonable not to brush next to the extraction sites after your surgery. You can safely resume brushing the area very gently 24 hours after the procedure.
- Dressings: Take care of the dressing. When you leave our office, you will have a dressing covering the extraction area, which may be bloody, which is very normal. This can be removed 30-60 minutes after you leave the office. Once removed, we don’t recommend replacing the dressing UNLESS there is an excessive amount of bleeding coming from the socket. Replacing the dressing often will result in displacement of the blood clot and sometimes more bleeding.
- Rinsing: Rinsing should NOT be done on the day of wisdom tooth extraction. On the days after surgery, gently use salt water rinses after each meal. Dr. Khader may also prescribe an antibiotic mouth rinse. That should be used starting the day after surgery. Gentle rinsing is the way to do it. We don’t recommend any vigorous rinsing or spitting.
- Reducing Swelling: Swelling may happen after your wisdom teeth are removed. Apply ice packs for 20 minutes on and then 10 minutes off to help reduce any swelling. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory medication that can help reduce swelling. Unless medically contraindicated, Dr. Khader will advise you to use Ibuprofen as your main pain medication after surgery. Keep your head elevated until bedtime. At bedtime, we recommend using a couple of pillows or sleeping on a recliner to avoid increased swelling.
What To Avoid After A Wisdom Tooth Extraction
In the first 24 hours following surgery, do not suck on a straw, rinse, spit, drink hot beverages, or do anything else that could dislodge the blood clots formed in the empty tooth sockets, including strenuous activity. Avoid smoking or vaping for 72 hours after the surgery. Do not eat hot and spicy foods or drink carbonated or alcoholic beverages. It is best to eat soft or liquid food for a few days and avoid chewing near the tooth socket.
What Can I Eat After Wisdom Tooth Removal?
In the first few hours after surgery, it is recommended that you eat soft and cold foods. Examples are ice cream, yogurt, pudding, apple sauce, and smoothies (Don’t use a straw- you can eat with a spoon). Eating cool and soft foods will prevent you from hurting yourself when your mouth, lip, and tongue are still numb from the effects of local anesthesia.
After the first few hours, you can slowly advance your diet to more substantial foods. You should not eat anything hard or crunchy for at least one week after surgery. You should also advance your diet slowly, as chewing may be painful.
Here are some examples of what you can eat the first few hours after surgery:
- Blended soups
- Broths
- Yogurt
- Pudding
- Smoothies
- Apple sauce
- Jell-O
As you begin to heal, gradually incorporate solid foods such as:
- Scrambled eggs
- Instant oatmeal
- Toast
- Macaroni and cheese
- Mashed potatoes
- Ground and well-cooked meats such as ground beef and shredded chicken
How Long Does It Take To Heal After A Tooth Extraction?
Postsurgical swelling and stiffness are typically at their worst 48 to 72 hours following surgery. These conditions will often start to subside after 72 hours. To minimize swelling, follow the directions stated above. In addition, sutures may have been placed. Most sutures will dissolve on their own in 3-5 days. A follow-up appointment may still be necessary. Dr. Khader and her team will notify you if a follow-up appointment needs to be scheduled.
What Else Can Be Done to Prevent a Dry Socket?
Dr. Khader recommends that Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) be placed in the wisdom tooth extraction site to promote healing. PRF is produced by taking a small volume of blood from the patient and using a centrifuge to condense the platelet-rich fibrin clot. This clot can then be used within the socket to help jump-start the first step of healing. It is a modality that has proven effective in preventing dry sockets and improving healing outcomes.
Dry Socket After Wisdom Teeth Extraction
As mentioned above, dry socket is a condition that can happen during wisdom teeth removal recovery. A dry socket can occur when a blood clot either doesn’t form or is dislodged after tooth removal. Without a blood clot, your socket bone is exposed, leading to pain. In most cases, a dry socket will heal on its own. Though, because many people experience moderate to severe pain, or jaw stiffness, it is advised that you see your surgeon for prompt treatment, which can help ease any discomfort sooner.
If a dry socket is detected, Dr. Khader will wash the wound with saline or an antibiotic mouthwash and will recommend packing the socket with an analgesic packing. This packing or dressing must be changed every few days until the discomfort subsides. The dry socket can take up to two weeks to resolve, during which time your dental team will see you as frequently as needed to ensure that you are in no pain.
Wisdom Tooth Removal at Community Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
We at Community Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery look forward to helping you in having the best experience possible as you go through your wisdom teeth removal. If you have any questions regarding this procedure or concerns regarding the healing process, do not hesitate to contact our Milwaukee, WI, oral and maxillofacial surgery office.