Wisdom Teeth Removal: 3 Complications That Could Occur Afterward

Because your mouth is only so big, you may need to have your wisdom teeth removed when they start coming in. This may be because there isn't enough room, the teeth are misaligned or the teeth are impacted. Whatever the case may be, if you need to undergo the extraction of your wisdom teeth, here are three complications that you may experience:

1. High Fever

A fever occurs in the body when there is an infection. The fever helps prep and assist the body in fighting the infection. A slight fever can actually be good because it means that the body is battling the infection. When dealing with a fever, you want to make sure you remove any excess blankets and clothing and avoid cold baths. If the fever reaches or exceeds 103 degrees F, and you cannot bring it down with an at-home fever reducer, contact your dentist immediately to get help in fighting the infection.

2. Dry Socket

When you have your wisdom tooth extracted, a hole will be left where the tooth once was. A blood clot is formed in this hole in order to help ensure that the area can heal properly. However, it is possible to cause that blood clot to move or break, which often occurs when you create a pulling or sucking motion with the mouth. For that reason, you should not smoke or use a straw until your mouth has had time to heal.

When the blood clot is lost, it can expose the underlying nerves and bone. This can then result in extreme pain. The most common time for a dry socket to occur is within five days of the surgery. If you experience serious pain, your dentist can examine the mouth to determine if you have dry socket and treat it.

3. Nerve Damage

Damage to your nerves could occur during the extraction of your wisdom tooth. This is particularly true with the lingual nerve, which is found in the lower portion of your jaw. This particular nerve supplies feeling to your tongue, so if the nerve has been damaged, you will likely experience pain and numbness in the tongue. Depending on the circumstances, the damage could be temporary or permanent. You are at greatest risk of suffering a nerve injury if you have your teeth extracted at 35 years or older and if the tooth is partially erupted beforehand.  If you experience consistent numbness and pain, make sure to consult with your dentist so that they can check for the possible incidence of nerve injury.

When you receive instructions from your dentist for post wisdom tooth removal care, it is imperative that you follow them. If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, contact a dentist, such as Hernandez Dental, immediately as there could be an infection or something more serious.