What to do after wisdom tooth removal procedure?
What to do after wisdom tooth removal procedure?
Here is a list of frequently asked questions that patients usually ask after the wisdom tooth removal procedure.
Q. For how long should I keep the gauze pack?
A. The dentist has asked you to bite on a gauze pack. Please keep pressure on the gauze pack for about 45 min. This pressure will help arrest the bleeding and help in the formation of a stable blood clot in the socket from where the tooth was removed.
Q. Can I do cold/hot fermentation on the cheek?
A. You can apply an ice pack on the cheek from the outside for about 10-15 min. while keeping firm pressure on the gauze pack. Please never ever use a hot pack on the surgery side as this will lead to acute increase in the swelling on cheek.
Q. Can I rinse after removing the gauze pack?
A. After 45 min. when you remove the gauze pack, DO NOT rinse or gargle with water. Gently remove the gauze pack and take one tablet each of the antibiotics and the painkiller that your dentist/maxillofacial surgeon has prescribed to you.
Q. Will I need bed rest?
A. You can rest for a little while if you feel tired or drained out. Else as such the procedure does not require you to rest or lie down at home or take a leave of absence from work.
Q. What all things can I eat?
A. For the next 24 hours please eat light food like Dalia/Khichdi/Pasta/Maggi/Soup. Please make sure that the food is at room temperature and not very hot.
Q. Can I smoke?
A. You cannot smoke for the next 72 hours. Smoke from cigarette/hukka/sheesha can lead to break down of the blood clot that has formed inside the empty area from where the tooth was removed
Q. When will you remove the stitches?
A. The stitches are removed 7-9 days from the day of surgery. This much time is needed for the healing to occur.
Q. I am facing difficulty in swallowing food. Is this something I should worry about?
A. Difficulty in swallowing food or saliva is normal and can occur in a certain percentage of patients. This happens because the muscles that help in swallowing are now swollen because of the wisdom tooth removal surgery. In the next 2-3 days you will notice that this problem will go away on its own. The best remedy for this to relieve quickly is to do warm saline rinses as many times as possible. This acts as a support mechanism for the body and helps reduce the swelling in muscles.
Q. The swelling on my face is increasing. I am worried about it. What should I do?
A. It is very normal to get swelling after removal of the wisdom tooth. This swelling keeps on increasing up to 4th day from the day of surgery. From the 5th day onwards it will start decreasing on its own. You do not have to do anything about it and there is no need for additional medication to reduce it. This swelling is the body’s response towards the surgical procedure that was done on it.
Q. I feel numbness/emptiness on my tongue/lower lip.
A. Now this is one symptom that can come in about 0.3% of patients. This is a temporary state and the sensation will come back within 3-4 months of time. Sometimes the roots of the tooth are very close to the nerve and when the tooth is removed, the nerve or the area very near to it gets disturbed. This can lead to numbness in the lip or half of the tongue.Do not worry,it will come back.
Q.I feel blood is filling my mouth again and again.Should i worry about it?
A. When a drop of blood mixes with saliva,the saliva becomes red in colour too and at times patients feel that blood is coming in the mouth again and again.However at bleeding from the wound is actual and real and clots of blood keep filling the mouth or the muscular spaces below the chin. It is an emergency situation that can threaten the airway of the patient leading to difficulty in breathing.
You should immediately contact your dentist/maxillofacial surgeon if you doubt that something like this is happening with you.It is always better to be on the safer side.
Wisdom tooth removal is a minor oral surgical procedure and like any other surgical procedures it has its healing time and the body requires about 7 days to recover completely. However one should keep in mind that getting the wisdom tooth removed is going to be good in the longer run as it helps the patient to maintain a better oral hygiene and saves the tooth just in front of the wisdom tooth from getting decayed due to constant food lodgement between itself and the wisdom tooth.
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For more information related to complications and things that can happen after removal of the wisdom tooth you can reach out to us on 7023271994 or can mail us on facekraftclinicjaipur@gmail.com