Wisdom Tooth Removal – Post-Surgical Instructions
At Advanced Family Dentistry, we’re here for you after wisdom tooth removal.
This process isn’t terribly in depth, but there are important things to know after your wisdom teeth have been removed. Here are some common tips, although a post-surgical care plan is different for every patient.
Home Care After Wisdom Tooth Removal
After an impacted wisdom tooth is removed, it can be therapeutic to rinse the site with salt-water after meals and at bedtime, generally starting on the second day after the procedure. It’s also important to monitor your temperature and notify doctors of any significant fever. Dr. Kim will provide specific details on how to care for the site.
Side Effects Post-Surgery
There are whole range of things that you might experience after the removal of impacted wisdom teeth that are relatively normal.
You may have significant swelling in the area of the operation, and some difficulty opening your mouth. A sore throat or even an earache is not uncommon, and may not be a signal of an impending virus or bacterial infection, but rather, part of the body’s response to the surgery. If you had IV sedation, that may generate some bruising and you may find small ulcers in your mouth that will go away over time.
There’s also something called ‘sympathetic tooth pain’ – you might ask: ‘why are my other teeth hurting after successful wisdom tooth extraction?’ The good news is that it’s not something you should worry about too much. If you have adjacent teeth that only hurt after the surgery, that’s probably due to sympathetic tooth pain, which typically goes away on its own.
Diet After Impacted Wisdom Tooth Removal
Directly after surgery, it’s important not to irritate your gumline excessively. In general, your body needs help to heal. Drink plenty of liquids and restrict yourself to soft foods. Dr. Kim may suggest foods like:
- Yogurt
- mashed potatoes
- grits or risottos
- soups
- soft cereals
- Jell-O
Carbonated liquids can help with nausea.
Smokers will need to take a break from their tobacco habit for a few days. Dr. Kim can provide details on all of the rest of the important home care for this type of procedure.
Medications
For an impacted wisdom tooth removal, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Pain medications may also be prescribed. It’s important to take these as directed, and ask a doctor about any questions you may have.
Come in to Advanced Family Dentistry and talk about what to expect leading up to and after an extracted wisdom tooth removal. We’ll walk you through every step of the treatment that will help you to restore your full oral health, and we’ll listen to any questions you may have. We are an active partner in helping our patients enjoy a better quality of life, with confidence in their teeth.
Dr. Sonny Kim is by far the best dentist I’ve ever had.
Dr. Sonny Kim is by far the best dentist I’ve ever had. I’ve had braces 3 times to close a gap between my front teeth but due to grinding, I broke my permanent retainer and the gap came back in another spot that was quite noticeable. I asked Dr.Kim what we could do to fix it without having veneers put on my front. 6 teeth. He made by HAND a mold to show me what it would look like if he just made each tooth a little bigger. I loved it immediately and booked an appointment to have it done permanently. My smile has changed for the better and I am absolutely in love with his work. No more getting my tongue caught in the gap or showing when I smile. The fact that he did this all by hand instead of sending it out shows how much he cares and how much he values his work. No other dentist could do what he did without it looking funny. I am super happy with the results and find myself smiling more than I use to. Oh, and did I mention that he got the colour perfect so you can’t see where the bonding starts and ends on my teeth. Kudos to Dr. Kim for making my vision a reality.
Once again Dr.Kim, I can’t thank you enough.
