What to Expect following Surgery


The removal of impacted wisdom teeth and surgical extraction of teeth is quite different from the extraction of erupted teeth. The following conditions may occur, all of which are considered normal:

  • The surgical area will swell
  • Swelling peaks on the seond or third day after your procedure
  • You may have difficulty opening your mouth for several days because of stiffness of the jaw muscles
  • You may have a slight earache
  • A sore throat may develop
  • Your other teeth may ache temporarily
  • If the corners of the mouth are stretched out, they may dry and crack. Your lips should be kept moist with cream or ointment
  • There will be a space where the tooth was removed. After 24 hours, this area should be rinsed following meals with warm salt water until it is healed. This cavity will gradually fill in with new tissue
  • There may be a slight elevation of temperature for 24 to 48 hours. If temperature continues after this, notify us
  • You may develop bruising in the area of an extraction
  • Women, please note: Some antibiotics may interfere with the effectiveness of your birth control pills. Please check with your pharmacist