How in the world can you cure numbness after getting wisdom teeth pulled out?

Postoperative Nerve Injuries

After any surgical procedure, there is always a risk for complications; nerve injuries are one such complication. When a nerve is injured, it's normal for the area the nerve supplies to feel numb. Depending on the severity of the injury, sensation may return in two to twelve months. If the nerve is completely transected, the resulting numbness will likely be permanent.

Alveolar Nerve Injury

The inferior alveolar nerve is a branch of the mandibular nerve that supplies sensation to the lower lip and chin. Because the inferior alveolar nerve runs close to the roots of the third molars (wisdom teeth), there's a small risk the nerve could be injured during third molar extraction.

Alveolar nerve injury following third molar extraction (dry socket)

Lingual Nerve Injury

The lingual nerve is another branch of the mandibular nerve that supplies sensation to the tongue. Like the inferior alveolar nerve, the lingual nerve is in close proximity to the third molar roots, so there's a risk of lingual nerve injury during a lower wisdom tooth extraction.

Numbness After Wisdom Teeth Removal

Since wisdom teeth are so close to vital structures like nerves, numbness of the lower lip or tongue is a potential complication of wisdom tooth extraction. The incidence of postsurgical paresthesia (numbness) in the United States is about 2.6%. If nerve injury does occur, the numbness typically resolves in a few weeks or months.

Temporary vs. Permanent Numbness

Following wisdom teeth extraction, numbness that resolves within six to twelve months is considered temporary. However, numbness that persists beyond one year is considered permanent and is due to complete transection of the nerve.

The decision of whether to proceed with wisdom tooth extraction needs to be made on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration any potential risks, such as nerve damage, against the likelihood of more serious problems occurring later on should the wisdom teeth not be removed.

Risk Factors for Permanent Nerve Injury

Permanent alveolar and lingual nerve injuries are rare, but there are patient-related risk factors that can increase the likelihood of nerve damage, such as:

- Being under the age of 18

- Impacted wisdom teeth

- Difficult removal of the wisdom teeth

- Anatomic variations in the nerves

Treatment for Permanent Nerve Injuries

As most postoperative nerve injuries resolve over time, treatment is usually conservative, involving analgesics and waiting. If the numbness is permanent and affects one's quality of life, more invasive procedures can be considered, like corrective surgery and nerve grafts.

Preventing Numbness After Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Choosing an experienced oral surgeon who routinely performs wisdom tooth extractions is the best way to minimize the risk of permanent nerve injury. Your oral surgeon will perform a thorough evaluation to assess the position of your wisdom teeth relative to the nerves and discuss any risks with you.