Wisdom Teeth Removal After Surgery Complications

In most cases, the actual extraction of wisdom teeth is generally painless thanks to Novocaine injections or anesthesia. However, the recovery process from the extraction is often quite painful. Several complications can arise while recovering from the extraction at home, some of which can be prevented.

Dry Socket

• One of the first complications a dental surgeon tells his patients to be aware of is dry socket. Dry socket occurs when a blood clot does not form in the empty socket properly. In most cases it is caused by the patient smoking, spitting, drinking with a straw or anything else that changes the pressure inside the mouth. When dry socket occurs, the patient will experience extreme pain due to the bone lining of the tooth becoming inflamed as the blood clot was removed. Dry socket causes a sharp and sudden increase in pain about 2 to 5 days after the extraction of the teeth, and takes about 2 weeks to heal.

Sinus Problems

• Another complication dental surgeons tell their patients about is the risk for sinus problems. Sinus problems can occur with the extraction of the upper wisdom teeth, which have roots that are very close to, or in, the maxillary sinus. If a hole is left in the sinus after extraction of the tooth and roots, it increases the likelihood that bacteria will enter the sinus. If this occurs, it is likely that bacteria can prevent healing and get into the sinus. Antibiotics are prescribed to treat the infected sinus, but often are unsuccessful, requiring another surgery to drain the sinus. Other times, bone fragments can make their way into the sinus area. These fragments are often washed out of the sinus with saline solution.

Infection

• During the recovery process, it is important to keep the mouth clean, as it is a breeding ground for bacteria. Using mild mouthwash or rinsing the mouth with salt water are two easy ways to prevent infection due to bacteria invading the open sockets. Several signs point to infection, including a fever over 100 degrees, bleeding starting again after 48 hours, extreme swelling, intense pain, and a constant bad taste in the mouth.

Nerve Damage

• Because there are so many nerves in the lower part of the mouth, nerve damage can be a damaging complication. Some patients become numb or experience a tingling sensation in their lower lip, chin or tongue. In most cases the numbness or tingling goes away within three months, while in other instances the normal feeling never returns. Nerve damage generally occurs when a nerve is traumatized by being crushed or completely cut. Anesthesia and Novocaine will cause some numbness, but if it remains longer than a day or two, it could be a sign of nerve damage.

Sequestration

• The extraction of wisdom teeth, in most cases, requires that the bone lining that surrounds the tooth be expanded and sometimes broken to release the tooth. These fractures generally heal quickly and properly on their own, but sometimes they do not cause concern to the patient. If the fractures get attacked by bacteria, the bony fragments may lose blood supply and become dead tissue. The body does not recognize dead tissue and naturally ejects them from the healing gums in a process called sequestration. Although sequestration can be painful, it is a fairly common complication that the surgeon can quickly fix.