You must have heard of wisdom teeth and how they can cause immense pain when it erupts and starts invading the space of the nearby teeth. You may follow all the proper ways of oral hygiene and have a healthy lifestyle. Suddenly, you wake up one day with excruciating pain at the back of your mouth and see you have swollen and red gums. That is your wisdom tooth erupting.
If you are considering removing your wisdom tooth, you must be educated about the subject to make an informed decision. While you should look at the benefits of the procedure, you should not forget about the possible complications. Schedule an appointment with a dentist at Wichita Falls dental practice today.
The possible complications of wisdom teeth removal
- Pain and swelling.
Pain and swelling are quite obvious complications of any invasive dental procedure. The process of extracting your wisdom tooth requires force, especially when the tooth has strongly placed itself in your jawbone. Therefore, it is common to experience pain and swelling following the days after the procedure. Over-the-counter medications and home remedies, such as ice packs, can cure this. You may also be required to eat soft foods for a while.
- Dry socket.
After the procedure, you will experience blood clots around the extraction site to help the wound heal. A dry socket forms when the blood clot is dislodged and the nerves under your gums are exposed to air. Patients who smoke and consume tobacco have a higher chance of developing a dry socket than those who do not. A dry socket may occur within three to five days following the treatment and cause throbbing pain. See your dentist when this happens.
- Injury to nerves.
Since wisdom teeth are located at the back of your mouth, they can be difficult to reach and remove. The teeth are also placed close to your nerves. Therefore, it is easy for the dentist to accidentally come in contact with the many nerves around the area and cause a bruise or damage. When this happens, you may experience numbness in your chin, lips, and tongue. However, don’t worry; this numbness goes away within a few weeks.
- Limited mouth opening.
Tooth extraction, especially wisdom tooth removal, is an extensive dental procedure that can temporarily make it difficult to open your mouth completely. You may experience limitations in opening your mouth. This can be healed using heat therapy, muscle relaxants, painkillers, and jaw-opening devices.
