young woman holds her jaw in pain after wisdom teeth removal

What Are the Side Effects of Removing Wisdom Teeth?

January 5, 2022 8:12 pm | Published by Vista Ridge Family Dentistry

Patients rarely look forward to having their wisdom teeth removed, but our Cedar Park dental team is here to help make your wisdom teeth removal as comfortable and efficient as possible.

Pain & Soreness

The main side effect that patients tend to ask about is pain. We will provide you with detailed instructions to manage your pain post-surgery as effectively as possible, but it’s still not uncommon to feel some soreness, stiffness, and discomfort in the jaw. It may be tempting to move your jaw as little as possible, but slowly opening and closing your mouth to stretch the muscles is good for the healing process. If you are concerned about the level of pain you’re experiencing, feel free to contact our team for assistance.

Swelling

Have you ever seen a friend or family member right after they had one or more wisdom teeth removed? You may have noticed that their faces appeared rounder or that they had “chipmunk cheeks.” This is a temporary side effect that typically only lasts for a few days at most. Gently holding a cold compress to the side of your face can help. Keeping your head propped up on a few pillows while resting and sleeping can also make a huge difference when it comes to reducing swelling quickly.

Complications

We hope your recovery post-wisdom teeth removal goes as smoothly as possible, but there is always a chance that a complication could develop. Dry sockets, for example, can happen when the blood clot in the extraction site comes loose, exposing the underlying bone and nerves. Infections can also occur as a result of bacteria or trapped food.

To avoid this, we recommend keeping your mouth as clean as possible by brushing your teeth and routinely rinsing your mouth with a warm saltwater rinse. Drinking through a straw and smoking should also be avoided due to the risk of dry sockets. If you have any unusual pain or symptoms, please let your doctor know, as we may want to examine the extraction site and assess the situation.

Categorised in: Blog, Oral Surgery, Wisdom Teeth

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What Are the Side Effects of Removing Wisdom Teeth?

Pain & Soreness

Swelling

Complications

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