Wisdom teeth removal is a very common oral surgery. All County Oral Surgeons have recommended patients look after the wound carefully for at least 2 weeks for a full and safe recovery.

Wisdom teeth are large teeth that grow at the very back of the mouth. Most people’s wisdom teeth come through between the ages of 17 and 25. Some people may not have any wisdom teeth come through at all.

Sometimes, there is not enough room in the mouth for wisdom teeth to move into the right position. They might break through the gums at an angle or only come through partially. When this occurs, it can create problems and impacted teeth. This can be very painful and cause larger problems like an infection.

The length of time it takes to remove wisdom teeth depends on the situation and the difficulty of the surgery.

How long does it take to recover from a wisdom teeth removal?

All County Oral Surgeons are proficient and compassionate when performing wisdom teeth extractions. Some people might need stitches to help close the wound. Every case is different but your surgeon will usually remove the stitches after about 1 week. All County Oral Surgeons will do everything possible to reduce any pain, swelling or bruising which will help with your recovery.

Recovery from wisdom tooth surgery will be gradual, but patients should see some improvement every day.

The healing process can be broken down into the following stages:

• First 24 hours: Blood clots will form.

• 2 to 3 days: Swelling of the mouth and cheeks should improve.

• 7 days: Removal of any stitches that remain.

• 7 to 10 days: Jaw stiffness and soreness should go away.

• 2 weeks: Patient should be fully healed.

Recovery time will be different for everyone so please stay in touch with your All County Oral Surgeon after your procedure.

How to speed up healing

Blood clots will form in the place where the tooth was removed. Blood clots are an essential part of the healing process because they:

• help prevent too much bleeding

• protect the wound from infection

• allow new tissue to grow

• protect the exposed bone

It is particularly important not to dislodge these blood clots in the first 24 hours. People should avoid:

• brushing teeth next to the extraction site

• rinsing the mouth

• drinking hot drinks

• eating food that requires chewing

• avoiding sucking on straws, smoking, or drinking alcohol for at least 24 hours

What can you do immediately after surgery?

Pain relief medication may help to relieve discomfort after wisdom teeth removal.

All County Oral Surgeons will send instructions for care at home to aid recovery including any prescriptions, medications and interactions.

Your surgeon may also suggest using an ice pack for the first few hours after surgery.

Holding an ice pack to the outside of the face over the area of the extraction site for 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off will help reduce discomfort and swelling.

What can you eat?

Eating soft or liquid foods can help to prevent damage to wounds. Some examples are:

• soup

• jello

• soft noodles

• eggs

• oat meal

• mashed bananas

For the first few days after surgery, avoid foods that need chewing, such as sticky candy or chewing gum as these may get stuck and can cause pain and damage to the healing wounds. Also avoid hard, crunchy food, such as chips, pretzels, nuts, and seeds, as well as hot or spicy foods.

If one or two wisdom teeth have been removed from the same side of the mouth, it may be possible to chew on the opposite side of the mouth after 24 hours.

NEED HELP BEFORE OR AFTER WISDOM TOOTH SURGERY?

With proper care, wisdom teeth surgery recovery is usually about two weeks. If you have questions before or after the surgery, feel free to contact our office at 631.752.1033 or email staff@allcountyoralsurgery.com. You can also LIVE chat by visiting our website.