The extraction of wisdom teeth (like any surgical procedure) involves some risks and complications, of which the main ones are listed here:
Infection
Sometimes an infection develops, even if you have been on preventive antibiotic treatment. Most of the time, secondary infections appear around the 15th postoperative day. This is usually regulated by a medical check-up (in order to establish the diagnosis and examine you) and a new antibiotic prescription. This is generally sufficient to resolve the infection. If the situation persists or gets worse, the area may have to be drained and rinsed under local anesthesia.
Transient Hypoesthesia of the Inferior Alveolar Nerve
This is the nerve responsible for the sensitivity of the chin, the lower lip and the tongue. This nerve travels through the bone of the lower mandible and is usually very close, or even in contact with the roots of the wisdom teeth. When these teeth are extracted early (between 15 and 20 years) the risks of affects on this nerve are greatly diminished compared to the same procedure done in adulthood. Individual risks are discussed with each patient before surgery. Even if all precautions are taken during the procedure, sometimes the inferior alveolar nerve is injured (slightly crushed, torn). When the effect of anesthesia disappears, you may experience numbness or tingling in the area of the nerve (jaw, lower lip, chin or tongue). The vast majority of the time these symptoms are transient and disappear in a period of time that can range from a few days to a few months. Cases of permanent anesthesia (usually in very small areas) are extremely rare.
Oro-antral Communication:
The upper wisdom teeth are located very close to the maxillary sinuses and their extraction can cause an opening between the sinuses and your mouth. Again, if the wisdom teeth are extracted early enough, these risks are diminished. But when the teeth have long roots and are partially visible in the mouth, the risk is higher. When a small opening is observed, there is usually no surgical intervention. It closes spontaneously, but you will probably have strict instructions to observe so that it can heal without complications (see below). If you feel that air is passing between your mouth and your sinus, contact the clinic promptly so that the doctor can examine you and determine if surgery is advisable. This is rarely necessary, but when this is the case, the shorter the time between diagnosis and surgery, the better the recovery.
Instructions for Oro-antral Communication:
- Do not blow your nose for 10 days. You can wipe your nose without blowing.
- If you have to sneeze, sneeze through your mouth to avoid pressure in the sinus
- Local antibiotic treatment with nasal spray 3x / day
Dry Socket
A dry socket, unfortunately, is a common problem after the extraction of wisdom teeth. This usually happens when the premature loss of the blood clot leaves the jaw bone unprotected. This problem appears to be more common among smokers. This complication usually appears between the 3rd and 5th post-operative day. This causes dull and throbbing pain that can first appear in the ear and radiate to the affected area, down to the chin.
The pain can wake you up at night and the prescribed painkillers may not be enough to ease the pain. A rinse of the socket under local anesthesia and the application of a special dressing will quickly relieve you of these pains. Call the office as soon as possible so that you can quickly alleviate your pain.
This complication is very painful, but does not represent a danger to your health. However, it should be dealt with quickly to relieve symptoms.
The post-operative instruction sheet (that has been given to you, or that you can ask for if it has not) should answer most of your questions. But if this is not the case, do not hesitate to call: