Wisdom Teeth Removal Recovery

When you know what to expect during your recovery beforehand, you can be more prepared and know what steps to take to ensure a comfortable healing period. When you have your wisdom teeth removed at Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Specialists of Cincinnati, we will provide you with detailed instructions before your procedure and recovery to keep you informed at every step.

Your compliance is key to ensuring a smooth, uneventful recovery. Follow your post-operative instructions closely and call our office if you have questions or concerns.

What to Expect After Anesthesia

The way you feel after anesthesia will depend on the type of anesthesia that was administered and your body's natural response to sedation. IV sedation is most often used for wisdom teeth removal. This form of sedation is administered intravenously and will put you into a sleep-like state during the procedure.

After the procedure is over, we will remove the IV from your arm and the effects of the sedation will slowly wear off. You will "wake up" and feel relaxed and sleepy. It's normal to experience dry mouth, nausea, swelling, and some discomfort. Everyone reacts to anesthesia differently, but you can feel comfortable knowing that our oral surgeons are also medical doctors who are highly trained to monitor our patients' health and safety.

You will relax in our recovery area while the anesthesia wears off. Once we feel you are ready to leave, we will dismiss you with your pre-arranged driver to go home and rest.

Recovery at Home

Your surgeon will provide you with instructions to follow regarding your specific needs. You can view more details regarding wisdom tooth removal recovery in our post-operative instructions.

Bleeding, swelling, and some degree of discomfort are normal after surgery. We will provide you with gauze to help manage bleeding, which will usually resolve in a few hours. To reduce swelling, we recommend holding an ice pack to the cheek for 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off for 24 hours after surgery. Pain management may include taking prescribed pain medication or over-the-counter medications as directed by your surgeon.

You can brush your teeth and rinse your mouth the day after surgery, using caution around the extraction sites. We may provide an irrigation syringe which involves irrigating the tooth sockets with a salt water solution to keep them clean.

How to Prevent Dry Socket

Dry socket (osteitis) is a condition that occurs when a blood clot forming within a healing tooth socket becomes dislodged or dissolves. Actions like smoking, sucking through a straw, or vigorously rinsing your mouth may dislodge the blood clot. If this occurs, you may experience significant pain as the underlying bones and nerves are exposed. A dry socket will also extend your recovery time, as a new clot must form.

There are no certain ways to prevent dry socket, but you can take some measures to help prevent the blood clot from becoming dislodged. We recommend not smoking, spitting, or using straws after surgery. There is no necessary treatment for dry socket, but if you experience pain that cannot be controlled with your recommended pain regimen, contact our office for further instructions.

Recovery From Wisdom Teeth Removal in Cincinnati & Mason, OH

We want every patient to have a comfortable and speedy recovery following oral surgery. By following our instructions closely, you can do your part to expedite the healing process and get back to your regular routine faster. Contact our practice today to schedule your wisdom teeth removal consultation or if you have questions regarding pre- or post-op care.