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Removal of Wisdom Teeth Complications

Since wisdom teeth rarely come in normally, most dentists recommend you have them pulled at a young age. The longer you wait to have your wisdom teeth extracted, the more likely it is that you'll suffer complications.

  1. Risk Factors

    • Wisdom teeth normally come in when a person is between 16 and 20, which is the best time to have the surgery done. Extractions get more complicated the longer you wait: teeth get larger, roots grow deeper and closer to the nerve in the lower jaw, the tooth can get impacted in the bone and the jawbone loses flexibility and density.

    Perforate Sinus Cavity

    • If the root of your wisdom tooth is near your sinus cavity, extraction might pierce your sinus wall. Your dentist may have to perform additional surgery to seal the hole.

    Nerve Damage

    • The roots of your wisdom teeth can grow down near the nerve that runs along the bottom of your jaw. During the oral surgery, this nerve can be damaged, which can cause prolonged numbness. The nerve will usually regrow and sensitivity will return.

      Nerve damage is a complication in about 1 to 2 percent of patients.

    Swelling and Bruising

    • The painful swelling and bruising that is typical after this surgery should go away in about 48 hours. If your tongue or throat swells to the point where you are having difficulty breathing, you may be reacting to the medication and should talk with your dentist.

    Fractured Jawbone

    • Extracting large wisdom teeth can fracture your jawbone, particularly when a large amount of bone surrounding the tooth must be removed in the surgery. Additional surgeries will need to be done to correct this complication.

    Infection

    • Your doctor should prescribe an antibiotic after surgery to prevent infections that can occur in any open wound. Rinsing with warm salt water also can reduce the chance of infection.

    Dry Socket

    • If your pain worsens several days after your extraction, you might have a dry socket, the area where the tooth was removed. This hole will eventually fill with new bone, but in the meantime a blood clot will form to protect it. A dry socket occurs when the blood clot is dislodged from the socket.

      Dry socket occurs in about 15 percent of patients, usually in the lower jaw. Call your dentist for additional medications.

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