Wisdom Teeth Stitches: Everything You Need to Know

Feb 17

If you’ve had your wisdom teeth removed, then you may have received stitches as well. This blog post will tell you everything you need to know about wisdom teeth stitches! We’ll cover what they are, how to take care of them, and when to expect them to heal.

Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Why do dentists put wisdom teeth stitches after surgery?
What to expect after getting your wisdom teeth stitches
How to take care of your stitches and minimize the risk of infection
When to call your dentist if you have any problems with your stitches
The importance of following postoperative instructions closely

Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Wisdom tooth extraction is a surgical treatment that removes one or more wisdom teeth, the four permanent adult teeth positioned at the top and bottom rear corners of your mouth. If a wisdom tooth does not have enough capacity to develop (impacted wisdom tooth), causing discomfort, infection, or other dental issues, it will most likely need to be extracted.

Wisdom tooth removal can be performed by either a dentist or an oral surgeon. Even if impacted teeth aren’t currently causing issues, some dentists and oral surgeons advocate wisdom tooth evacuation to avoid potential future complications.

Why do dentists put wisdom teeth stitches after surgery?

If a wisdom tooth is impacted (meaning it can’t break through the gum tissue), the dentist may need to cut the gum tissue and bone to remove the tooth. This can cause bleeding and swelling. To help control these symptoms, the dentist will often put stitches in the gums. The stitches help keep the tissue together so that it can heal properly. They also help reduce the amount of swelling.

What to expect after getting your wisdom teeth stitches

After oral surgery, dissolving sutures fall apart on their own. Oral surgeons typically use this kind following the removal of wisdom teeth. These sutures usually fall out after a few weeks, but it may take up to a month for your sutures to fully disintegrate.

Several variables influence this, including:

the duration of the tooth extraction operation
stitch length and kind
utilized stitching material

Your oral surgeon may use sutures that may not disintegrate on their own in some cases. If this is the case, they will notify you when to return to have the sutures removed. Removable sutures are typically removed 7 to 10 days following surgery.

After getting your wisdom teeth stitches, you can expect to experience some swelling and discomfort. The stitches will help reduce the amount of swelling and help the tissue heal properly. You will also need to keep the area clean and dry. You may need to take antibiotics if you have an infection.

How to take care of your stitches and minimize the risk of infection

Keeping the area where your dissolvable stitches are clean and dry is essential. You may need to take antibiotics if you have an infection. The stitches will typically dissolve on their own, but if they don’t, the dentist will remove them.

Your dental surgeon will provide you with aftercare advice following wisdom teeth removal. The instructions will explain how to care for your stitches and the blood clot that grows over the tooth socket.

These blood clots are advantageous because they help prevent developing a dry socket, a potential surgical complication. Because every scenario is unique, it is critical to carefully follow your doctor’s directions.

Typical aftercare guidelines

After 24 hours, gently cleanse the area with saltwater. Gently rinse or spit is not permitted. Allow the water to drain from your mouth.

Your dentist or oral surgeon may issue a prescription for chlorhexidine solution. This is an antibacterial rinse used to lessen the possibility of infection. Use chlorhexidine precisely as directed.

Antibiotics may be prescribed by your dentist or oral surgeon in specific instances. If they do, make sure that you finish the entire prescription to ensure a smooth healing process.

For 3 to 7 days, dentists advises avoiding flossing or using a toothbrush on the extraction site.

Foods to avoid

Avoid eating things that may break or disturb sutures for the first several days after your wisdom tooth surgery. The best meals and beverages are those that are soft.

They are as follows:

smoothies
yogurt
eggs
potatoes
soup

Avoid eating anything sticky, difficult to chew, or likely to leave food particles in the stitch region.

In the meantime, you should avoid the following foods:

Strawberries, raspberries, and other small-seeded fruits
Nuts or crunchy nut spreads
Popcorn and raw carrots
Fresh corn on the cob
Steak and other chewy meals
Gum chewing

When to call your dentist if you have any problems with your stitches

If you have any problems with your stitches, such as excessive bleeding, pain, or swelling, you should call your dentist.

In rare cases, you may see a loose stitch protruding. You may also discover that a stitch has entirely fallen out.

Except in the following cases, this is not a cause for concern:

you see indications of infection
The wound is now open.
The wound is oozing.

Inform your oral surgeon if a loose stitch irritates your gums or the side of your face. Without the agreement of your oral surgeon, do not cut it, tug on it, or attempt to remove it on your own. Remember that the stitch dissolves from the inside out and will fall out or disintegrate shortly.

If you suspect an infection, call your dentist or oral surgeon immediately. They will most likely prescribe oral antibiotics for you to take. If they do, be sure to finish the entire prescription, even when you begin feeling better.

Oral infections can worsen quickly, so don’t wait to let your dentist or oral surgeon know if you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms.

The importance of following postoperative instructions closely

It is critically important to closely follow your doctor’s postoperative instructions after wisdom teeth removal. Not following the instructions may increase your risk of developing a surgical complication.

Some of the most common postoperative complications include