Common Questions

Each patient is unique and reacts differently to surgical procedures.  Below is a list of common concerns following oral surgery procedures.  Please feel free to call our office at any time to discuss questions or concerns regarding your recovery.

• SUTURES: Sutures may be placed at the surgery site to minimize post-operative bleeding and to help with healing. Sometimes they may become dislodged.  This is no cause for alarm. Just remove the suture from your mouth and discard it. Unless otherwise specified, the sutures will dissolve within a week or so.

• DISCOLORATION: In some cases, the skin may become discolored 2-3 days after the surgery. The development of black, blue, green, or yellow discoloration is due to blood spreading beneath the tissues and is no cause for alarm. Moist heat applied to the area may speed up the removal of the discoloration.

• STIFFNESS: Stiffness (Trimus) of the jaw muscles may cause difficulty in opening your mouth for a few days following surgery. This is a normal post-operative event which will typically resolve in time.

• NUMBNESS: Numbness of the lip, chin, or tongue is common and is usually temporary in nature.  You should be cautious if your lip or tongue is numb because you could bite it and not feel the sensation. Call Dr Tew if you have any questions.

• DRY SOCKET: A dry socket is when the blood clot gets dislodged prematurely from the tooth socket and the bone is exposed. Food and bacteria can then get into the socket and cause infection.  Symptoms of pain at the surgical site and even pain to the ear may occur 4-7 days following surgery. Call the office if this occurs.

• SURGICAL PACKING: For more intensive surgeries, surgical packing may be placed in the socket to aid in healing. Packing should be removed in our office within 5 days of your surgery.

• BONE SPURS: Occasionally, patients may feel hard projections in the mouth with their tongue. They are not roots, they are the bony walls which supported the tooth. These projections usually smooth out spontaneously in a few weeks.

• FEVER:  A slight elevation of temperature immediately following surgery is not uncommon. If the temperature persists, notify the office. Tylenol or ibuprofen should be taken to reduce the fever.

• SORE THROATS: As the muscles of the mouth become swollen, pain when swallowing is not uncommon. This will typically subside in 2-3 days.

• CRACKED LIPS: If the corners of your mouth are stretched, they may dry out and crack. Your lips should be kept moist with an ointment such as Vaseline.

The pain and swelling should subside more and more each day following surgery.  If your post-operative pain or swelling worsens or unusual symptoms occur, call our office for instructions.