Wisdom Teeth ExtractionCoon Rapids, MN

What to Know Before Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Wisdom teeth extraction is commonly performed and generally safe when carried out by qualified doctors. However, like any other surgery, it does carry a small risk of complications. These include bleeding, dry socket, and infection. Our team will do everything we can to minimize these risks even further. However, patients should contact our office immediately if they find themselves experiencing any of the following symptoms after their extraction:

• Absent or dislodged blood clot at the extraction site after surgery
• High temperature
• Persistent pain and swelling
• Persistent, heavy bleeding that does not subside over time
• Throbbing pain in the gum or jaw
• Unpleasant smell or taste in the mouth
• Yellow or white discharge from the extraction site

Most potential complications following wisdom teeth extraction are easily treatable when reported to the doctor.

After Wisdom Tooth Removal – Instructions

Having wisdom teeth extracted is an important surgical procedure and it is important to follow your post-op care instructions very carefully. Following the instructions provided by Dr. El Deeb can help to avoid pain and infections.

• Immediately following your surgery, you should keep a gauze pad over the extraction site for thirty minutes.
• You should avoid rinsing your mouth vigorously or touching the extraction site, as these could dislodge your blood clot.
• If you are prescribed pain medicine and antibiotics, it is important to take these as prescribed by Dr. El Deeb.
• You should restrict your physical activities on the day of the surgery to give your body time to heal properly, and ice packs should be used for the first thirty-six hours to help minimize swelling.
• After Wisdom Tooth Removal it is normal for some bleeding to occur. If there is excessive bleeding, you can bite a gauze pad for 30 minutes and repeat as necessary. If the gauze does not stop the bleeding you can bite on a moistened tea bag for thirty minutes, which can help encourage clotting. If you are unable to stop the bleeding, please contact our office for more information.
• Facial swelling after wisdom tooth extraction is expected; this is a normal reaction to the surgery. Swelling will typically be most noticeable two or three days after your surgery but can be minimized by using an ice pack during the first 36 hours after surgery.
• For pain, after your wisdom tooth removal you can take Tylenol or Ibuprofen according to the listed directions, or if Dr. El Deeb prescribed a pain reliever you can take those as prescribed.
• After your surgery, it is important to drink plenty of fluids.
• It is very important that you do not drink through a straw as this can dislodge the blood clot and cause problems.
• Avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the surgery occurred and try to eat soft foods or liquids.
• It is important to avoid skipping meals so that your body has the energy to aid in healing.
• Avoid rinsing until 24 hours after your surgery. After this, you can rinse five to six times a day with a warm saltwater mix.
• It is not uncommon to see a discoloration of the skin after swelling occurs. You may see blue, green, yellow, or even black discoloration underneath the tissue. You can apply a moist heat to treat this discoloration.
• If you feel nausea or vomiting after your surgery, avoid taking anything by mouth for at least an hour. Slowly sip a beverage until your nausea subsides and then begin eating solid foods as prescribed.

Sutures Instructions

Dr. El Deeb will place sutures at the extraction site to help speed healing. If these sutures become dislodged, you can simply remove them from your mouth and discard them. Pain from the extraction should subside more each day after the surgery. These sutures are dissolvable, so there is no need to come back into the clinic to remove them. They will fall out by themselves.

Important – Dry Socket Instructions

The extraction site will have an empty space where the tooth was removed, this will fill in with new tissue over the next few months and should be kept clean with a saltwater rinse. If your blood clot gets dislodged early, it can result in a dry socket. This can lead to additional pain at the extraction site. If this happens, contact our office immediately.