Wisdom Teeth Removal Problems

Wisdom teeth, also called third-year molars, are usually removed because your jawbone is too small to accommodate them. The following problems with removal can occur.

Swelling

• Swelling, even though normal after surgery, can be painful. Your skin might become bruised after surgery. You will have a normal amount of bleeding, and this might appear like a lot of blood when mixed with your saliva.

Dry Socket and Numbness

• You might get a dry socket if the blood clot dislodges from the surgical site. This complication exposes the bone and is very painful. If this happens, see your dentist.

  You might have numbness in the jawbone. This happens when the sensory nerve in the area becomes damaged, but this condition is usually temporary.

Damage To Adjacent Teeth

• Damage to the adjacent teeth is a possibility during wisdom teeth removal. Occasionally a dentist may accidentally chip or break a tooth or filling near the surgery site. This is rare, however.

Infection

• You might get an infection from food getting stuck in the surgical site. Pain beyond what is normally expected is a sign you might be getting an infection.

Sinus Problems

• If the wisdom teeth were up high near the sinus cavity before removal, you might experience sinus problems after the surgery. On rare occasions during the surgery, the dentist might perforate the thin bone that separates the jaw from the sinus cavity. The opening can usually be closed and the patient given antibiotics and told about the occurrence. A longer recuperation will be needed or future surgery if the opening does not heal properly.

Jawbone Fracture

• If there was an unusually large amount of bone removed during the surgery, it is possible to incur a fracture or weakening of the jawbone.