Wisdom Tooth Removal Recovery Timeline

Wisdom teeth can be a pain, literally. If they are only partially emerged or crooked, they can wreak havoc on your gums and eventually your smile. Wisdom consists of the third and last molars on each side of your mouth and typically appear in an individual’s teens and late twenties.

When they become problematic, it is best to extract them as early as possible since the younger you are, the less developed the roots are and with fewer complications. It is suggested that wisdom teeth should be extracted between the ages of 16 and 19.

Whether you are still young or have waited until your adult years to extract your wisdom teeth, you may be wondering how long does pain after wisdom tooth extraction last. The wisdom teeth recovery timeline may vary but it can typically take as long as one week.

Having your teeth pulled is no walk in the park, so plan to take it easy after oral surgery. If you’ve already made your appointment or considering doing so, you may have questions about the process. Look no further than Gables Sedation to walk you through every step of the way.

Extraction: What to expect

The extraction of wisdom teeth is carried out by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in the dentist’s office. The oral surgeon will meet with you to discuss the process in depth, asking you about any health problems you may have and any current medications you may be taking.

Additionally, the oral surgeon will answer any specific questions you have about the process and discuss the type of anesthesia that will be administered. If you have children, plan to set up childcare or pet care. Also, plan to take time off work or school to make time to rest after the surgery.

The surgery should take approximately 45 minutes or less. Be prepared to be sedated with at least one type of anesthesia including local, IV sedation, or general. The surgeon may have to cut bone or gums to extract the wisdom tooth. If this is necessary, you’ll receive stitches to close the wound shut and use gauze to soak up blood. These stitches will dissolve in a few days and should heal well during recovery.

Wisdom tooth recovery timeline

Everyone reacts to anesthesia differently. If you received local anesthesia, you may be awake and alert enough to drive yourself home. However, if you had general anesthesia, you may feel a little drowsy and will need someone to drive you home.

The good news is that most people have little pain after surgery but you will experience swelling and discomfort for at least a few days to a week. No solid foods, alcohol, soda, coffee, or other hot beverages should be consumed for the first few days following the oral surgery.

Believe it or not, you should not brush your teeth, floss, or rinse for the first day of recovery, which should be at least 24 hours.

For the most part, the oral surgeon will provide instructions on how to best take care of your mouth during the recovery period. Still, plan on taking it easy for a few days initially and take a prescription painkiller provided by the surgeon to ease the discomfort.

Ice packs or moist heat applied over your jaw will help with reducing inflammation and swelling. Once the initial 24 hour period has passed, you should gently brush your teeth and frequently rinse with salt water to prevent infection. In general, your mouth will need a few weeks to completely recover and heal.

Be sure to initially stock up on soft foods such as applesauce, cottage cheese, rice, soup, pasta, and yogurt. While recovering be sure to not brush against any blood clots and notify your doctor if you develop a fever or if the pain and swelling does not improve.

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