While the wisdom tooth extraction procedure takes place in just one appointment that is approximately two-hours long, the recovery can last for two to three weeks after. If complications arise, it may take even longer to properly heal from a wisdom tooth extraction. Keep reading to learn more about how long you can expect the recovery from wisdom tooth extraction to take.
What to Expect on Day 1
Immediately after your wisdom tooth surgery, you will likely experience significant discomfort, swelling, bruising, and bleeding. You should plan to rest for at least the first 24 hours. Use ice packs at 20-minute intervals to reduce swelling and relieve pain. Take all pain medications and antibiotics as directed. Until the blood clot forms over your extraction site, you should place moist, clean gauze to protect the socket and absorb blood. In most cases, bleeding will cease completely after the first 24 hours and you can stop placing gauze.
What to Expect in the First 3 Days
In the first two to three days after your procedure, you will experience swelling and bruising. This is normal, and most people are able to address the discomfort and swelling by applying ice packs or cold compresses to the face for 20-minutes at a time and taking prescription or over the counter pain medications as directed. Avoid applying heat to the area of the extraction site as this can lead to increased blood flow and further discomfort.
What to Expect in the First Week
Within the first seven days of treatment, you should return to the surgeon’s office to have the stitches removed if necessary. At this point, you should feel much better and see noted improvement in swelling and bruising. You should be able to resume your regular routine with some restrictions when it comes to driving, heavy lifting, and otherwise exerting yourself.
What to Expect After 7 to 10 Days
Within the first ten days, jaw stiffness and limitation in range of movement should be completely gone. If you are still struggling to speak, chew, yawn, or smile without pain, it’s time to contact our office. In order to ensure your recovery by this point, we encourage patients to start exercising and massaging the jaw joints after the first 48 hours. Gently open your mouth as far as possible and move the jaw from side to side. If you feel, see, or hear anything out of the ordinary when moving your mouth, stop exercising the jaw immediately. If you notice new bleeding or swelling after your attempt at jaw exercise, call your oral surgeon. In addition to exercising the jaw by performing a range of movements, you can also massage the jaw joints to relieve pain and allow for more comfortable motion. Gently massaging the jaw joints for a few minutes at a time can greatly improve comfort and range of jaw movement.
What to Expect After 2 to 3 Weeks
After two or three weeks, your extraction site should be healed over, any bruising and swelling should have subsided, and you should have a full range of jaw movement. If you are still experiencing pain or discomfort after the first three weeks, please call your oral surgeon right away.
Meet the Practice
Piney Point Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery offers excellence across a complete list of Houston oral surgery procedures, including wisdom teeth extraction. To learn more about their services or to discuss wisdom tooth removal with an oral surgeon, you are invited to contact the office at 832-293-4912.
How long does it last?
You’re at risk of developing dry socket after a tooth extraction. The clinical term for dry socket is alveolar osteitis.
Dry socket typically lasts 7 days. Pain can be noticeable as early as day 3 after extraction.
After tooth extraction, a blood clot usually forms at the site to heal and protect it. With dry socket, that clot either dislodges, dissolves too early, or it never formed in the first place. So, dry socket leaves the bone, tissue, and nerve endings exposed.
Dry socket is painful. Food particles or debris can get stuck down in the extraction site. This can delay the healing process or lead to infection.
Dry socket isn’t very common, but certain things can put you at increased risk. You’re mostly at risk of dry socket during the first week after tooth extraction.
While more research is needed, it’s estimated that less than 1 percent to 5 percent of people get dry socket after a routine tooth extraction.
During normal recovery, your pain should steadily decrease over time. But instead of getting better, pain from dry socket will get worse over time.
Dry socket pain usually starts a day or a few days after surgery. If you’ve made it about a week after surgery and your mouth is mostly healed, then chances are you won’t get dry socket.
Dry socket must be treated by a dentist. This means you’ll need to make a return trip to your dentist’s office after your surgery.
Your dentist will clean and medicate the site to help it heal. They’ll also likely recommend over-the-counter or prescription pain medications.
If pain, fever, or swelling continues, always check with your dentist.
Treatment includes:
- Cleaning the site. Sometimes food or debris can get stuck down in the empty hole.
- Medicated gauze. This should immediately relieve some pain. Your dentist will provide directions for cleaning and replacing the gauze at home.
- Pain medications. This can include over the counter like ibuprofen or prescription drugs, depending on your pain levels.
A possible complication of dry socket is delayed healing. Infections may occur but aren’t strictly linked to dry socket. If you have any sign of infection, call your dentist immediately.
Signs of infection include:
- fever and chills
- swelling
- redness
- pus or discharge from the extraction site
Doctors don’t yet know of a direct cause of dry socket. It can be hard to guess who might experience it. However, it’s more likely to happen to certain people and under certain conditions.
You’re most at risk of developing dry socket if you:
- Don’t follow your dentist’s postsurgery instructions.
- Remove gauze from inside your mouth too early.
- Have preexisting infections, such as periodontal (gum) disease.
- Smoke. This is due to decreased blood supply in the mouth as well as the strong sucking movement.
- Have a traumatic surgery, such as the removal of impacted wisdom teeth.
- Have denser jaw bones.
- Are female or take birth control pills. Certain hormones may increase your risk.
Every case of dry socket is different. Only your dentist or oral surgeon can tell you your personal risk factors for dry socket. Only work with a board-certified dentist to ensure that you receive top quality dental treatments.
To prevent dry socket, it’s very important that you follow your dentist’s instructions for recovery.
After a tooth extraction:
- Don’t smoke for at least 1 week after surgery.
- Don’t drink hot or acidic beverages that may dissolve the blood clot, such as coffee, soda, or juice.
- Avoid injury to the mouth during recovery.
- Avoid consuming food that may get stuck in the site, such as nuts, seeds, or gum.
- Don’t suck on a straw or spoon for 1 week after surgery.
- Avoid birth control pills if you can. Talk with your doctor and plan ahead to find a replacement birth control while you recover.
Some studies found that rinsing with a chlorhexidine gluconate rinse before and after tooth extraction decreased risk of dry socket. Using chlorhexidine gluconate gel in the socket after extraction also decreased the risk of dry socket.
The main symptoms of dry socket are increased pain and odor in the mouth. Usually, pain and swelling after a tooth extraction get better over the course of a week. With dry socket, pain begins a few days after surgery and gets significantly worse.
The pain may feel like it covers the whole side of your mouth or face. You may be extra sensitive to cold drinks since soft tissues and nerve endings are exposed.
Call your dentist if you suspect dry socket. They can determine the next steps to help you recover.
Dry socket is one complication that may follow tooth extraction. Doctors don’t know exactly why it happens.
Dry socket pain feels different than the usual soreness after surgery recovery. Your dentist can help the wound heal and keep pain manageable. Always be sure to follow up with your dentist after a procedure if you’re unsure of new or worsening symptoms.