Oral surgeries have many benefits, but even the best things in life can be painful. You may have post-operative swelling after a tooth extraction, which will eventually go away on its own. But what if it doesn’t?
You should start worrying about swelling if it doesn’t subside by the third or fourth day after a tooth extraction. Let’s take this discussion a little further and delve into the whys and whats of post-operative swelling.
Swelling After a Tooth Extraction
In order to repair the surgical site after oral surgery, the body starts an inflammatory reaction. Swelling is the result of increased blood flow to the region during this reaction. A number of factors can affect the degree and duration of swelling, including:
Personal Healing Rate
Everybody recovers at a different rate. For some people, the swelling peaks in a day, while for others, it may take two to three days.
Type of Surgery
More complicated surgeries that require a lot of tissue manipulation result in more swelling than simpler ones.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Surgery is needed to remove wisdom teeth since they are usually impacted or positioned incorrectly. Compared to a standard tooth extraction, this may result in more noticeable swelling following wisdom teeth removal.
Timeline of Swelling After Tooth Extraction
After tooth extraction, swelling usually exhibits a predictable pattern. What to anticipate is as follows:
Day 1: Although there may not be any noticeable swelling on the day of the procedure, some initial puffiness is common.
Days 2-3: This is often when swelling peaks. Particularly around the extraction site, your face may seem and feel more swollen than usual. It’s your body’s normal reaction as it starts the healing process.
Days 4-5: You should begin to notice less swelling now. The discomfort should progressively decrease as the inflammation starts to go down.
Day 7 and Later: By this point, the majority of the swelling should have subsided. However, depending on each person’s recovery pace, mild swelling might last for a few weeks.
When to Worry?
Post-operative swelling is common, but some complications call for prompt medical intervention. Swelling might indicate an infection if it keeps getting worse beyond the third day after the operation. In a similar vein, fever and swelling together are a clear sign of an infection and should prompt you to contact your dentist.
Above all, any significant swelling that interferes with breathing is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention.
Final Say!
Tooth extraction is a simple procedure, but the post-operative experience is different for everyone. It is normal to experience swelling on the extraction site for 24-72 hours. However, significant swelling after the third day of tooth extraction is worrisome.
You can consult our expert dentist at Aava Dental to talk about your post-extraction experience. Call us at (818) 792-4500 to book your appointment.