After Wisdom Teeth

General Dental Post-operative Instructions

• Use ice packs for 24 hrs to minimize swelling. Alternate off and on every 20 minutes.
• Eat soft foods and maintain adequate daily fluid intake.
• Avoid hot food, carbonated or alcoholic beverages, and smoking for 3 days.
• Avoid the use of straws, vigorous swishing, and spitting for 3 days.
• Beginning the day after surgery, gently rinse with warm salt water. 1/4 teaspoon salt to 6 ounces of Water.
• Keep your head elevated on 2-3 pillows for 24 hours after surgery to minimize swelling.
• If you were given a cleaning syringe, begin using it 5 days after your surgery in lower sites only.  Use warm salt water in the syringe on the lower sockets three times a day until your gums heal.
• If you were given Socket™ Oral Pain Gel, you may begin using it 4 hours after surgery in and on the surgical site as instructed for topical pain relief and healing.
• If small stitches have been placed in the gums, they will dissolve in approximately one week.
• If you had IV Sedation or General Anesthesia, a responsible adult is to remain with you for 24 hours. You may not drive or operate machinery for a minimum of 24 hours.
• Avoid flying for 5 days if upper back teeth were removed.

In case of bleeding:

• A gauze compress has been placed over the wound.  Apply modest pressure with biting. This should remain for one-half hour.
• Should slight bleeding continue, place another gauze compress and bite for an additional one-half hour. This may need to be repeated 3-4 times.
• If bleeding continues, moisten a small tea bag and place it over the wound while biting for 30 minutes. Repeat if necessary.
• Slight oozing may continue for 1-2 days.

Symptoms which may occur:

• Swelling of the face is common, and usually is maximized at day three and is resolved by day four to six.  This does not imply infection is present. If swelling increases after the fifth day, notify the office.
• Pain is normal after your procedure. Pain medications are often necessary for two to three days. After this the discomfort is often subsided with Advil. You may take two to three Advil every six hours.
• Stiffness of the jaws is common and usually relaxes within one week.
• Bruising may appear by the 2nd or 3rd day and often resolves by day ten.
• A dry socket is when the blood clot gets dislodged prematurely from the tooth socket. Symptoms of throbbing pain at the surgical site and even pain radiated to the ear may occur 2-3 days following surgery. Call the office if this occurs.
• Slight numbness of the lip and/or tongue may occur as was previously explained.  If the numbness persists for longer than one week, please inform your doctor at the follow-up appointment or by telephone.
• After anesthesia, drowsiness may persist up to 24-36 hours.  If this occurs do not drive or remain without supervision.

Instructions from the Doctor

Different people recover from wisdom tooth surgery at different rates. Depending on the nature of the surgery, your age and your individual recovery capacity, you should expect to get back to regular work in 2-4 days.

We have made every effort to give you all the information you will need for a rapid recovery.

In case of an emergency call the office at 817.552.3223. You will be instructed on how to get in contact with the Doctor. Thank you for trusting our office with your treatment.