It's normal to have some swelling after oral surgery. For most people, it increases for 2 or 3 days and then starts to decrease after that. If swelling and pain increase after 3 days, call the clinic for an appointment. You'll feel the most discomfort when the sensation starts to return to your mouth.
You want to take the best care of your teeth and gums after surgery, but you also want to return to normal life. Your recovery schedule will vary depending on the type of surgery you are having, your physical health, and your age. Hopefully, any bleeding will stop within the first 24 hours and you'll feel better after the effects of the sedation have worn off. Complete healing can take up to two weeks.
In the case of a simple extraction (which consists of removing a tooth that has already come out of the mouth), the recovery process is usually very brief. Usually, your oral surgeon will ask you to take at least 48 to 72 hours to relax afterwards so that the treatment area is allowed to clot. After that, the patient should be able to return to normal physical activity. Usually, the soft tissue will heal completely in about 3 to 4 weeks.
During the first 24 hours after the tooth is extracted, several things will happen. Blood clots will start to form and the sutures in the mouth will help the tissue begin to heal. This should be discussed beforehand by the patient and their oral surgeon so that the patient can coordinate it with their employer if necessary. Jaw stiffness and pain are common after oral surgery and can cause limited mouth opening (trismus).
Some oral surgeries, specifically those that focus on bone structure (such as bone grafts and apicectomy), may require a longer period of overall healing. Contact your dentist or Columbia Smiles if you've recently had oral surgery and have questions about your recovery. If you are preparing to have oral surgery, you may be concerned about how your recovery will be.
