Wisdom teeth, as the last erupting teeth in the human mouth, often bring many problems to people because of the lack of growth space, abnormal position and so on. When wisdom teeth cause repeated pain, inflammation, or affect oral health, removal becomes a necessary option. However, one of the biggest concerns many people have before deciding to have wisdom tooth surgery is postoperative pain. So, how long will it hurt after wisdom tooth surgery? And how long will the pain last? Next, we will explore this question in detail.
First. Wisdom tooth operation process and pain basis
Before we can understand postoperative pain, we need to briefly understand the process of wisdom tooth surgery. Wisdom tooth extraction is a common oral surgery, usually performed under local anesthesia. Doctors will first disinfect the surgical area and then inject a local anesthetic to temporarily disable the ability of nerves at the surgical site to transmit pain. When the anesthesia takes effect, the doctor will use professional tools, such as braces, dental forceps, etc. to loosen the wisdom tooth from the alveolar bone and remove it. If the location of the wisdom tooth is more complicated, such as completely embedded in the alveolar bone, it may also be necessary to cut the gum, remove part of the bone, or even cut the tooth into small pieces and then remove them separately.
Although patients usually do not feel pain during surgery due to anesthesia, this does not mean that the surgery does not cause damage to the oral tissue. In the process of removing wisdom teeth, the gums, alveolar bone, periodontal membrane and other tissues will be damaged to varying degrees, which will trigger a series of physiological reactions in the body, resulting in postoperative pain.
Second, the onset time of postoperative pain
In general, the onset time of pain after wisdom tooth surgery is closely related to the fading of the anesthetic effect. The local anesthetic usually works for about 2-4 hours, and when the anesthetic wears off, the patient will begin to feel pain. Most patients in the postoperative 2-3 hours, can obviously feel the pain at the wound, the degree of pain varies from person to person, some patients feel like a slight swelling pain, while some patients will feel the pain is more intense.
In addition, the onset time of pain may be influenced by a number of other factors. For example, the size of the surgical trauma. If the wisdom tooth removal process is smooth, the operation time is short, and the damage to the surrounding tissue is small, then the pain may be relatively delayed and the degree will be less. On the contrary, if the removal of wisdom teeth is more difficult, the surgery has caused greater trauma to the gums, alveolar bone and other tissues, and the pain may appear earlier, and the pain degree is more obvious.
Third. The development law of postoperative pain
(1) 1-2 days after surgery: peak pain
The pain usually peaks one to two days after surgery. This is because during this time, there is an inflammatory response at the site of the surgical trauma. In order to repair the damaged tissue, the body will activate the inflammatory mechanism, a large number of immune cells will gather at the wound, while releasing a variety of inflammatory mediators, such as prostaglandin, bradykinin and so on. These inflammatory mediators stimulate nerve endings and make pain receptors more sensitive, which can lead to increased pain.
At this time, the patient may feel obvious swelling pain and jumping pain at the wound, and the pain may also radiate to the same side of the head, face and ear, and even affect normal chewing, swallowing and sleep. At this stage, the pain is generally moderate to severe, and some patients may need to take pain medication to relieve the pain.
(2) 3-5 days after surgery: pain gradually relieved
From the third day after surgery, as the body repairs itself, the inflammation subsides and the pain begins to ease. At this point, the swelling at the wound will subside and the redness will improve. The patient will gradually feel less pain, and the frequency of pain will also decrease. However, at this stage, patients still need to pay attention to oral hygiene and avoid infection of the wound, because once infected, the pain will not only not reduce, but may worsen again.
(3) About 1 week after surgery: the pain basically disappeared
About 1 week after surgery, most patients’ pain basically disappeared, and the wound began to heal gradually. At this time, the patient can resume a normal diet (but still need to avoid eating spicy, irritating food), and oral function is basically back to normal. However, before the wound is completely healed, the patient may occasionally feel a slight discomfort, such as when chewing hard food, the wound may have some faint feeling, but this feeling is very mild and will not have a significant impact on daily life.
Four. Factors affecting postoperative pain
Individual differences
Everyone experiences and tolerates pain differently. Some people are naturally more sensitive to pain, even minor stimuli will feel obvious pain; Some people are more tolerant to pain, and the same trauma may feel less painful to them. In addition, age, gender and other factors can also have an impact on pain perception. In general, older people and women are relatively sensitive to pain, and the pain may be a little more pronounced after surgery.
The growth of wisdom teeth
The location, shape and impacted type of wisdom teeth have important effects on postoperative pain. If the wisdom tooth is completely erupted in a normal position, it is relatively easy to remove, the surgical trauma is small, and the postoperative pain will be less. However, if the wisdom tooth is horizontally impacted, vertically impacted or completely impacted, the gum needs to be cut and the bone removed during removal, which is difficult to operate, and the damage to the surrounding tissue is also large, and the postoperative pain will be more severe and last longer.
Surgical operation
The skill and experience of the surgeon can also affect postoperative pain. Experienced and skilled doctors are able to perform surgical procedures with greater precision, reducing unnecessary tissue damage and reducing the risk of postoperative pain and complications. On the contrary, if the procedure is not properly performed, it may lead to increased trauma and increase the degree and duration of postoperative pain.
Postoperative care
The quality of postoperative care is directly related to wound healing and pain relief. Keeping the mouth clean is the key to postoperative care. Patients need to follow the doctor’s guidance, the correct use of mouthwash, gargle in time after meals, remove food residue in the mouth, to prevent bacteria from breeding and causing infection. At the same time, patients also need to pay attention to diet, postoperative short-term should avoid eating spicy, irritating food, as well as hard, overheated food, so as not to stimulate the wound, increase the pain. If the patient does not do a good job of postoperative care, resulting in wound infection, the pain will not only not reduce, but also may last for a long time, and even lead to more serious complications.
Five, how to relieve postoperative pain
(1) Drug remission
When the postoperative pain is more obvious, the patient can take pain-relieving drugs under the guidance of the doctor. Common analgesics include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, which can reduce pain by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators. It should be noted that patients should strictly follow the doctor’s instructions to take the drug, do not increase or decrease the amount of medication or extend the time of medication, so as to avoid adverse reactions.
(2) Physical methods
In the first 24 hours after surgery, cold compresses can be used to relieve pain and swelling. Apply an ice pack or cold towel to the face on the surgical side for 15-20 minutes at a time, every 1-2 hours. Cold compresses constrict local blood vessels and reduce blood leakage, thereby reducing swelling and pain. 24 hours after surgery, it can be changed to hot compress, promote local blood circulation, accelerate the absorption of inflammation, help relieve pain and promote wound healing.
(3) Pay attention to rest and diet
Getting enough rest can help the body recover better and reduce pain. Patients should ensure adequate sleep after surgery to avoid overwork. At the same time, a proper diet is also very important. After the operation should choose light, easy to digest food, such as rice porridge, noodles, egg soup, etc., eat more foods rich in vitamins and proteins, such as fresh vegetables and fruits, milk, fish, etc., help promote wound healing, relieve pain.
Six. Abnormal pain requires prompt medical attention
Although pain after wisdom tooth surgery is normal, patients should seek medical attention in time if the following abnormalities occur. For example, the pain continues to get worse after surgery, and even after taking pain medications and other relief measures, the pain still does not improve significantly; The wound appeared a lot of bleeding, pus, accompanied by obvious odor; Increased body temperature, fever symptoms, etc. These conditions may indicate infection or other complications in the wound that require further examination and treatment by a doctor.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the onset time, degree, and duration of pain after wisdom tooth surgery are influenced by a variety of factors. Generally, the pain begins after the anesthetic effect wears off, peaks 1-2 days after surgery, and then gradually eases, and basically disappears about 1 week. Patients should do a good job of nursing care after surgery and take appropriate measures to relieve pain as recommended by doctors. If there is an abnormal situation, be sure to seek medical attention in time to ensure that the wound can heal smoothly. Understanding this knowledge helps patients to be more calm in the face of wisdom tooth surgery, better cope with postoperative pain, and promote the recovery of the body.
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