Jaw Pain after Wisdom Teeth Removal

Are you experiencing jaw pain or tightness after your wisdom teeth removal surgery? Jaw tightness, discomfort, or pain is not uncommon after impacted wisdom teeth extractions. Impacted wisdom teeth are wisdom teeth embedded in your jawbone. Depending on your age or level of impaction, these factors can affect how hard it will be for the surgeon to extract your wisdom teeth.  After extraction, it can cause your jaw muscles to contract due to the swelling and invasiveness of the procedure.  This condition is called trismus and is very common and can cause a small impairment in the ability to eat or speak normally. Trismus can also cause jaw discomfort due to the muscles restricting.  Additionally, post-operative swelling can limit the ability to open your mouth wide. This usually goes away within a week or two after your wisdom teeth extraction surgery. However, medication before treatment can be given to prevent post-operative swelling. A Medrol Dose Pack can be given by your surgeon to start taking before your surgery to decrease the chance of post-operative discomfort. If you do end up with post-operative trismus, ice packs and ibuprofen can help alleviate the pain or swelling. Due to the jaw muscles contracting, you may even experience a condition called bruxism. Bruxism is very common among the adult population, even though most people don’t even realize they do it. Bruxism is a condition in which you clench or grind your teeth, most commonly occurring during sleep. This act can put passive pressure on the jaw muscles leaving them sore and irritated. Consulting with your surgeon before treatment is imperative to have the necessary medication and preparation you need before treatment. If you are experiencing any symptoms worse than minor discomfort in your jaws, contact your surgical office immediately.