WISDOM TOOTH REMOVAL 

The removal of impacted teeth is a serious surgical procedure. Post-operative care is very important. Unnecessary pain and the complications of infection and swelling can be minimized if the instructions are followed carefully. If you have had any form of sedation, please refrain from driving for at least 24 hours.

 

Day of surgery:

  • Bite firmly on gauze for 15-20 min. Limit any talking to keep pressure. When you get home you can take the gauze out & check the bleeding. If the gauze has light spotting/light bleeding, it is okay to leave the gauze out, as long as the bleeding has slowed down.

  • If blood is saturating the gauze or collecting in your mouth, you can repeat the process with new gauze. You may need to do this several times throughout the first day.

  • Make sure you are placing the gauze directly over and touching extraction sites.

  • If bleeding is uncontrolled by evening, you may try biting on a moisten black tea bag, wrapped in moist gauze keeping pressure for 15-20. Intermittent bleeding overnight is normal.

  • DO NOT SLEEP WITH GAUZE IN YOUR MOUTH.

Pain Control:

  • Long-acting numbing medicine is given for wisdom teeth surgery; you should be numb into this evening. It is important start pain medication before numbness has worn off.

  • The main medication used in our office for post-operative pain is a high strength Ibuprofen. You can take prescribed 600mg of Ibuprofen every 6 hours.

  • For additional pain control; it is safe to take 2 Extra Strength Tylenol, (Two 500mg tablets to equal 1000mg) in the middle of the ibuprofen (3hrs into the 6hrs). Alternating between the two medications every 3 hours. That equals 1000mg of Tylenol every 6 hours. (DO NOT exceed 4000mg of Tylenol in 24 hrs). 

  • If you do not have a prescription for Ibuprofen 600mg. Over the counter Advil/Motrin is ibuprofen and is usually supplied in 200mg. Therefore you can take three 200mg tabs to equal 600mg, every 6 hours. )

  • If a medical issue prevents you from taking ibuprofen, Tylenol is the only alternative.

Diet:

  • Nausea is common after anesthesia. Start by drinking clear fluids and advance to soft foods as long as your stomach has settled.  (Pudding, yogurt, applesauce, milk shakes, protein shakes, mash potatoes, eggs, over cooked noodles) Maintain soft foods for a week after surgery.

  • AVOID foods that can get stuck in extraction sites. (Chips, nuts, seeds, popcorn, rice).

  •  Try not to miss a single meal. You will feel better, have more strength, less discomfort and heal faster if you continue to eat.

  • NO STRAWS FOR THE FIRST 2 WEEKS AFTER SURGERY.

Swelling:

  • Apply ice packs on the outside of face where the jaw makes the bend. Keep ice packs on the area for 20-30 min. each hour for the first 48 hours.  (Swelling may peak at days 3-4 after surgery, and then subside.) If you have been prescribed medication for swelling be sure to take it as directed; Day of surgery is considered day one. 

  • After about 48 hours, ice has no beneficial effect. If swelling or jaw stiffness has persisted for several days, there is no cause for alarm. This is a normal reaction to surgery. forty-eight hours following surgery, the application of moist heat to the sides of the face is beneficial in reducing the size of the swelling. 

  • In some cases, discoloration of the skin follows swelling. The development of black, blue, green, or yellow discoloration is due to blood spreading beneath the tissues. This is a normal post-operative occurrence, which may occur 2-3 days post-operatively.

Hygiene:

  • You can resume brushing your teeth 24 hours after surgery. Tonight, you can gently rinse with the prescribed oral rinse by rolling your head side to side & gently letting it spill out of your mouth- NO vigorous swishing/rinsing.  

  • If you run out of or do not have prescription oral rinse, you can use 1tsp of salt mixed with 8oz of warm water.  

  • DO NOT probe extraction sites.

Day three after surgery:

  • Irrigate extraction sites, starting on day 3 after surgery by gently placing the tip of the syringe into the lower extraction sites (this will not harm healing if done starting on day three) Then flush with prescribed mouth rise Chlorhexidine. (You may use salt water if you run out of the prescribed rinse; 1tsp of salt to 8oz of water). Irrigating the sockets is very important and can keep you out of pain. You need to irrigate the sockets after you eat until your follow up appointment. It is important to keep the extraction sites clean of food as the gum tissues heal & close over.

  • Limit vigorous exercise for 1 week after surgery.

  • Sutures are placed the area of surgery to minimize post-operative bleeding and to help healing. Sometimes they become dislodged, this is no cause for alarm. Just remove the suture form your mouth and discard it. 

  • A dry socket is when the blood clot gets dislodged prematurely from the tooth socket. Symptoms of pain at the surgical site and even pain to the ear may occur 2-3 days following surgery. Call the office if this occurs.

  • There will be a cavity where the tooth was removed. The cavity will gradually over the next month fill in with the new tissue. In the mean time, the area should be kept clean especially after meals with salt water rinses or a toothbrush.

Other Complications

  • If numbness of the lip, chin, or tongue occurs there is no cause for alarm. As stated, before surgery, this is usually temporary in nature. You should be aware that if your lip or tongue is numb, you could bite it and not feel the sensation. So be careful. Call if you have any questions.

  • Slight elevation of temperature immediately following surgery is not uncommon. If the temperature persists, notify the office. 

  • Sore throats and pain when swallowing is not uncommon. The muscles get swollen. The normal act of swallowing can then become painful. This will subside in 2-3 days.

  • You should be careful going from the lying down position to standing. You were not able to eat or drink prior to surgery. It was also difficult to take fluids. Taking pain medications can make you dizzy. You could get lightheaded when you stand up suddenly. Before standing up, you should sit for one minute then get up.

  • Occasionally, patients may feel hard protrusions in the mouth with their tongue. They are not roots; they are the bony walls which supported the tooth. These protrusions usually smooth out by themselves over time. If not, they can be removed by Drs. Pavlick & Reppas. If the corners of your mouth are stretched, they may dry out and crack. Your lips should be kept moist with an ointment such as Vaseline.

  • Stiffness (Trimus) of the jaw muscles may cause difficulty in opening your mouth for a few days following surgery. This is a normal post-operative event which will resolve in time.

  • Smoking is NOT advised. Smoking creates pressure change within your mouth and can lead to dry socket, it is also quite detrimental to healing. Refrain from smoking until extraction sites have completely closed over

If you have any questions, or if you’re still experiencing pain, do not hesitate to call the office.

 

Pavlick & Reppas

5 out of 5 stars based on 45 Wisdom Teeth reviews

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

Staff and dr were amazing!

- Carissa H

5 out of 5 stars by Carissa H on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

Thank you for making this scary idea of taking wisdom teeth out to a way more pleasant experience than I expected

- Vera H

5 out of 5 stars by Vera H on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

Really happy with the kindness shown and how well the procedure was done.

- Danielle C

5 out of 5 stars by Danielle C on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

Wouldn't want to go to any other place to get teeth pulled. Staff was very friendly and caring

- Christopher H

5 out of 5 stars by Christopher H on

Our Latest Patient Testimonial

Let me say, I was absolutely terrified of getting my third molars (wisdom teeth) out before. Dr. Reppas made me feel comfortable and informed about the procedure. He gave me all the supplies and information I needed for post-op care. The procedure was quick, the bed side manners were wonderful, everyone is friendly, and overall Dr. Reppas is a very wonderful surgeon. They worked very well with my dental and medical as well. Thank you Dr. Reppas, I appreciate the wonderful job more than you know!

- Haley N

5 out of 5 stars by Haley N on