Wisdom tooth extraction seems simple, but in fact it can lead to serious complications such as infection, nerve damage, and even fatal anaphylactic shock if done incorrectly. The article below will help you identify 7 common complications after wisdom tooth extraction and how to prevent them to protect your health in the safest way.
If you want to learn more about wisdom tooth extraction and complications after wisdom tooth extraction, you can watch the doctor's knowledge sharing video here:
Wisdom teeth, also known as tooth number 8, are the last teeth to grow on the jaw. Due to insufficient space, wisdom teeth often grow crooked or underground, causing many problems such as pain, swelling, gingivitis, tooth decay or misalignment of other teeth. In these cases,wisdom tooth extractionis necessary to protect overall oral health.
However, wisdom tooth extraction is a complicated procedure, especially in cases where the teeth are impacted or have an abnormal structure. If not performed by a qualified doctor and at a reputable dental facility, you may face many complications after wisdom tooth extraction. Therefore, the decision to remove wisdom teeth should be based on a thorough assessment by a specialist, and should not be done on your own or by following unorthodox advice.
Wisdom teeth often grow crooked or impacted, causing many problems such as pain, swelling, gingivitis, cavities or displacement of other teeth
Although the majority of wisdom tooth extractions are safe, there is still a small percentage Patients encounter complications after wisdom tooth extraction. Understanding them clearly will help you prepare mentally and know how to handle them if you unfortunately encounter them.
1. Anaphylactic shock
Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to anesthetics or other drugs used during tooth extraction. Although rare, this is an extremely dangerous complication.
- Cause: Occurs when the body's immune system overreacts to an allergen.
- Symptoms: Can appear quickly with symptoms such as difficulty breathing, hives, swelling of the face or throat, sudden drop in blood pressure, dizziness, nausea, and loss of consciousness.
- Prevention: To minimize this risk, it is important to give a detailed allergy history (with medicine, food, pollen...) to the dentist before the procedure. The dentist will perform an anesthetic skin test or ask carefully about allergy history to ensure absolute safety.
2. Prolonged bleeding
Bleeding is a normal phenomenon after wisdom tooth extraction, but if the bleeding continuously does not stop or flows more than normal, this may be a complication after wisdom tooth extraction that needs attention.
- Causes:
- Blood clotting disorders: Patients have a history of blood diseases (such as hemophilia, hemophilia) or are using anticoagulants (Aspirin, Warfarin).
- Infection: Wounds Infected extraction can cause abnormal bleeding.
- Infection: Severely infected tissues around the tooth before extraction can increase the risk of bleeding.
- Damage to blood vessels: During the extraction process, large blood vessels can be accidentally damaged.
- Treatment: Bite firmly on the hemostatic gauze continuously for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. If bleeding continues, contact your dentist immediately. Patients should inform their doctor about any medications they are taking or medical history related to blood clotting.
3. Infection
Infection is one of the most common complications after wisdom tooth extraction if sterile procedures are not followed or improper post-operative care is given.
- Causes:
- Incomplete sterility: Dental instruments or clinic environment are not absolutely sterile.
- Non-adherence to antibiotic treatment: Patient does not take antibiotics in the correct dosage or for enough time as prescribed by the doctor.
- Poor hygiene: Oral hygiene not done properly after extraction, allowing food to get stuck in the extraction site.
- Symptoms: Prolonged swelling and pain, fever, bad breath, pus at the extraction site.
- Prevention and treatment:
- Choose a reputable dentist: Make sure the clinic has a strict aseptic process.
- Comply with the doctor's instructions: Take antibiotics, pain relievers, and anti-inflammatory drugs in the right dose and for the right amount of time.
- Proper wound care: Gently rinse your mouth gently with physiological saline or prescribed antiseptic solution. Avoid using your tongue or sharp objects to touch the spit. Avoid eating hard, chewy, hot and spicy foods in the first few days.
4. Alveolar bone inflammation
Alveolar osteitis, also known as dry socket, is a painful complication after wisdom tooth extraction that occurs when a blood clot formed at the tooth extraction site dissolves or washes away, leaving the jawbone and nerve exposed.
- Causes:
- Loss of blood clot: Due to rinsing too hard, smoking, drinking from a straw, or infection.
- Previous history: More common in patients with a history of alveolar osteitis, smoking leaves, poor hygiene, or are using oral contraceptives.
- Symptoms: Severe pain, not relieved by regular pain relievers, accompanied by unpleasant bad breath and a strange taste in the mouth. Pain can spread to the ears and temples.
- Treatment: Need to see a dentist immediately. The dentist will clean the tooth socket, place special medicated gauze to relieve pain and stimulate the formation of new blood clots.
5. Nerve damage
This is one of the most worrying complications after wisdom tooth extraction, although rare. Damaged nerves can cause temporary or permanent loss of feeling.
- Location: Lower wisdom teeth are often located near the Inferior Alveolar Nerve and Lingual Nerve.
- Cause: It may be due to the tooth extraction process directly damaging the nerve, due to compression or swelling after surgery.
- Symptoms: Numbness, loss of sensation in the lower lip, chin, or part of it. of the tongue. Sometimes it can cause sharp pain or a tingling feeling.
- Prevention: Taking a panoramic X-ray (Panorex) or CT Cone Beam before extraction is extremely important to accurately determine the position of the wisdom tooth and its relationship with neighboring nerves, helping the doctor plan the safest tooth extraction.
6. Inability to open the mouth
Inability to open the mouth, or jaw stiffness, is a condition in which it is difficult or impossible to open the mouth wide after wisdom tooth extraction.
- Causes:
- Inflammatory reaction: Swelling and inflammation of the muscle tissue surrounding the jaw due to trauma during the extraction process.
- Side effects of anesthetics: Some anesthetics can cause temporary muscle stiffness.
- Muscle damage: In rare cases, there may be damage mild to the chewing muscles.
- Symptoms: Difficulty opening the mouth, pain when trying to open the mouth, jaw stiffness.
- Treatment: Usually goes away on its own after a few days. Your doctor can instruct you to gently open your mouth, apply warm compresses, and use anti-inflammatory medication to reduce swelling.
7. Missing tooth roots or bone fragments
This is a complication after wisdom tooth extraction that can cause discomfort and require further intervention.
- Cause:
- Complicated tooth structure: Wisdom teeth often have curved, hooked or branched roots, making it difficult to fully extract.
- Inaccurate extraction technique: Doctor does not have much experience or does not operate carefully enough.
- Limitations in diagnostic imaging: Not enough X-rays or unclear films are taken. sharp, leading to not being able to identify all parts of the tooth.
- Symptoms: Prolonged pain, swelling, local infection at the extraction site. Sometimes a hard piece can be felt protruding from the gum.
- Treatment: You need to go to the dentist to check and remove the remaining tooth root or bone fragment.
In addition to the 7 complications after wisdom tooth extraction mentioned above, you may also encounter a number of other problems but are usually less serious:
- Damage to neighboring teeth: During the wisdom tooth extraction process, especially when the wisdom tooth is crooked or impacted, tooth number 7 (second molar) can affected, causing looseness or damage to tooth enamel.
- Pain, swelling, bruising: These are the body's natural inflammatory reactions after a minor surgery. The level of pain, swelling and bruising will vary depending on the difficulty of the extraction and each person's constitution.
- How to handle: Use pain relievers as prescribed, apply cold compresses for the first 24-48 hours to reduce swelling and bruising. Get enough rest.
In addition to dangerous complications, there are also some common but normal symptoms after wisdom tooth extraction, such as:
- Slight swelling in the cheeks for 1 - 3 days.
- Dull pain at the tooth extraction site.
- Small bruises around the cheeks or gums.
These symptoms usually go away on their own after 3 - 7 days and can be controlled with pain relievers, cold compresses and rest.
Symptoms such as mild swelling or dull pain usually go away on their own after 3-7 days and can be controlled with pain relievers, cold compresses and rest
To minimize risks, the most important thing is
- Choose an experienced doctor:A good doctor with experience in wisdom tooth extraction will accurately assess the tooth condition, plan a safe extraction, and handle arising situations well.
- Choose a dentist with modern equipment:Equipment such as panoramic X-ray machine (Panorex), Cone Beam CT machine helps determine the exact position of the tooth and important anatomical structures (nerves, maxillary sinus) around it.
- Follow your doctor's instructions. Doctor:After tooth extraction, follow all the doctor's instructions regarding wound care, medication and follow-up examinations.
If you are planning to have your wisdom teeth removed or are looking into dental implants, don't hesitate to contact Lac Viet Intech Dental for an in-depth examination, consultation and assessment.
Lac Viet Intech Dental branch system:
- TP. HCM:No. 90 - 92 Ngo Gia Tu, Ward 9, District 10, City. HCM
- Hanoi:
- No. 91 Hue Street, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi
- No. 168 Lang Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi
- No. 426 Minh Khai, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi
- No. 27 Nguyen Van Huyen, Cau Giay District, Hanoi
- Nghe An:No. 24 Cao Thang, Hong Son Ward, Vinh City, Nghe An An
- Hai Phong: 107 To Hieu, Le Chan, Hai Phong City
